THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC: 


A  CONCISE  SCENIC 


HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 


AND  OTHER 


SELECTED  POEMS. 


BY  A  CITIZEN  OF  NASHVILLE. 


Revised  and  Enlarged  Edition. 


PRINTED  FOR  THE  AUTHOR. 

PUBLISHING  HOUSE  OP  THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  SOUTH. 

BARBEE  &  SMITH,  AGENTS,  NASHVILLE,  TENN. 

1892. 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

AGAINST  SECTIONAL  HATRED,  IN  FAVOR  OF  TRUTH,  JUSTICE, 
LOVE,  AND  FEDERAL  UNITY. 

The  facts,  events,  and  scenes  of  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC  are  ar 
ranged  in  chronological  order  from  March  11, 1704,  to  October  1, 
1890. 

The  characters  speaking  are  angels  and  demon?,  including: 

ANGELS.  DEMONS. 

MICHAEL,  ABDIEL,  SATAN,  MARS, 

GABRIEL,  ZOPHIEL,  BAAL,  AZAZEL, 

UZZIEL,  ZEPHON,  MOLOCH,  SERAPIS, 

ITHURIEL,  ISRAFIEL,  MAMMON,  BELIAL, 

RAPHAEL,  ZADKIEL,  BELUS,  ASMODEUS, 

AZARIAS,  ARIEL.  CHEMOSH,  AZRAEL. 


COPYRIGHT,  1892.    ALL  UIUIITS  UESEKVKD. 


CONTENTS. 


BOOK  FIRST.— 1764-1766.  PAOB 

Britain  from  Julius  Csesar  to  George  III. — William  Pitt — 
Grenville — The  Stamp  Act — America  a  Greater  Britain — 
Jamestown  the  Nursery  of  American  Piety  and  Civiliza 
tion — New  England's  Enterprise — Virginia's  Burgesses 
the  Fir^t  American  Legislature — All  the  Colonies  Aroused  5 

BOOK  SECOND.— 1766-1773. 

Satan's  Soliloquy — Pitt  Prime  Minister — Gets  Sick — The 
Boston  Massacre — Royal  Piety — Death  of  Whitefleld 21 

BOOK  THIRD.— 1773-1776. 

Chatham  is  "  Junius  "—Boston's  Tea  Party— The  Boston 
Port  Bill — Virginia  Fasts — The  South  Feeds  Boston — 
Gagu  Inclosed  by  a  Human  Wall — Dunmore  Driven  Out 
of  Virginia — Battle  of  Lexington — Battle  of  Bunker  Hill 
— British  Driven  from  Boston — Declaration  of  Independ 
ence — French  Offers  of  Arms,  Ammunition,  Money 44 

BOOK  FOURTH.— 1776-1783. 

Revolutionary  Battles  from  Long  Island  to  Yorktown — Suf 
ferings  at  Valley  Forge — Plots  Against  Washington — Ar 
nold's  Treason — French  Co-operate  at  Savannah — At 
Yorktown — Peace — Washington  Resigns  His  Command..  69 

BOOK  FIFTH.— 1787-1811. 

Constitutional  Convention — No  Power  to  Coerce  States — 
Virginia  Convention  Disturbed  by  a  Storm  While  Henry 
Speaks— A  Tribunate  of  States  Desirable — The  Bargain 
between  New  England,  Georgia,  and  the  Carolinas — 
Washington  Inaugurated — Satan's  Scheme  for  War  Be 
tween  the  States — Jay's  Treaty — Adams  President — War 
with  France — Alien  and  Sedition  Laws — Jefferson  Pres 
ident — Louisiana  Purchased — The  Embargo — John  Hen 
ry  and  New  England — Madison  President 90 

BOOK  SIXTH.— 1811-1829. 

War — Battles  from  Tippecanoe  to  New  Orleans — Hartford 
Convention — Peace — An  International  Court  to  Prevent 
War — Monroe  President — Missouri  Compromise — Florida 
Purchased— Texas  Given  Away — J.  Q.  Adams  President 
—A  High  Tariff— Lafayette's  Visit— Tariff  Higher 115 

-(3) 

443349 


4  CONTENTS. 

BOOK  SEVENTH.— 1829-1860.  PAGE 
Jackson  President — A  Gradual  Reduction  of  the  Tariff- 
Van  Buren's  Ascendency — Battle  of  San  Jacinto — Van  Bu- 
ren  President— Slade's  Petitions  against  Slavery — Satan's 
Boast — Harrison  President— Tyler  President — Texas  to 
Be  Annexed — The  Magnetic  Telegraph — Polk  President 
— Mexico  Makes  War — Is  Conquered — Much  of  It  An 
nexed — A  Tariff  for  Revenue — Gold  Discovered — Taylor 
President — Fillmore  President  —  Clay's  Compromise — 
Pierce  President — Satan's  Cyclone  — Buchanan  President 
— The  Dred  Scott  Decision — John  Brown  at  Harper's  Fer 
ry — Historic  Discussion  of  Slavery 134 

BOOK  EIGHTH.— 1860-1862. 

South  Carolina  Secedes — Argument  on  the  Folly  of  Seces 
sion — On  the  Right  to  Secede — No  Troops  to  Coerce  States 
— A  Nation's  Immorality — Argument  on  the  Nature  of 
the  Union — Lincoln  President— Battles  from  Fort  Sumter 
to  Fredericksburg — Criticisms  on  Generals 158 

BOOK  NINTH.— 1862-1864. 

Battles  from  Fredericksburg  to  Nashville — Death  of  Stone 
wall  Jackson — The  North  Goes  to  the  Bosom  of  John 
Brown— Onward  and  Skyward  at  Lookout — John  H.  Mor 
gan — Georgians  Banished  from  Their  Homes  as  Chero- 
kees  Were — Argument  against  Arson — Naval  Conflicts. . .  181 

BOOK  TENTH— 1864-1868. 

Bachman  Ill-treated  by  Sherman's  Hell-hounds — Richmond 
Keeping  the  Sabbath— Ford's  Theater — Johnson  Presi 
dent — Davis  a  Vicarious  Sufferer — Right  or  Wrong  of  Sla 
very—The  Guilty — Retribution — Cruel  Treatment  of  Pres 
ident  Davis — Johnson  Impeached — Alaska  Acquired — 
Fire  in  Chicago — Boston — The  North-west — Retribution — 
Black  Friday— Tweed — Credit  Mobilier— Grant  President.  206 

BOOK  ELEVENTH.— 1876-1885. 

Centennial  Exhibition — Pittsburg  Railroad  Riots — Argu 
ment  on  Arson — On  Labor  and  Capital — Taxation— Fi 
nance,  etc. — Hayes  President — Garfield  President — Death 
of  Garfield — Arthur  President — Burial  of  Emerson — The 
ological  Arguments 231 

BOOK  TWELFTH.— 1885-1890. 

Cleveland  President — Reform  in  Civil  Service — Discover 
ies  and  Inventions — Burial  of  Grant — Harrison  President 
— Michael's  Sublime  Visions  of  America's  Future — Satan's 
Threats  and  Predictions — Politics — Enrich  the  Poor 
Without  Impoverishing  the  Rich 253 


DRUMMOND  WELBURN, 
AUTHOR  OF  "THE  AMERICAN  EPIC." 


THE  flMERICflN  EPIC 


BOOK  FIRST. 


Scene:   Westminster  Abbey.     Time,  early  morning,  March  11,  1764. 
MICHAEL  and  GABRIEL  approach  each  other. 

Gabriel.  Hail,  faithful  leader  of  the  heavenly  hosts! 
My  loving  comrade  since  creation's  dawn ! 
At  thy  approach  bright  days  of  early  years 
Come  tripping  lightly  from  the  silent  shades, 
Flitting  with  airy  tread  o'er  memory's  paths. 
In  their  light  footsteps  comes  the  grand  array, 
The  princely  pomp,  the  brief  magnificence 
Of  hoary  nations  that  then  claimed  our  care. 
They  rose,  they  flourished,  fell,  and  are  but  dust. 

Michael.  These  are  the  tombs  of  kings  and  famous  men ; 
Fortune's  most  flattered  fav'rites  molder  hero. 
This  is  ambition's  goal.     Here  ends  the  race 
For  wealth,  for  power,  for  fame's  green  laurel-wreath. 
Here  human  greatness  shows  its  littleness,    • 
And  earthly  glory  ends  in  sordid  dust. 

Gabriel.  Yes,  Michael;  guilty  greatness  has  no  dreams 
Of  heav'nly  joy  to  cheer  the  sleep  of  death. 
Hope  holds  no  vigils  where  the  wicked  rest. 
They  will  not  wake  to  everlasting  bliss, 
Nor  stand  approved  before  the  Judge  of  all. 

Michael.  To  men  this  place  is  ancient.     In  its  gloom 
The  ghosts  of  solemn  centuries  seem  near. 
To  us  'twas  but  last  week  or  yesterday 
That  Julius  Caesar  first  to  Britain  came, 
With  conq'ring  legions  to  subdue  its  tribes 
And  to  great  Eome's  vast  empire  add  their  home. 


6  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Gabriel.  True,  Michael ;  but  since  then  Teutonic  hordes, 
Danes,  Scandinavians,  and  Scots,  and  Picts, 
And  cruel  Norman  conquerors,  have  slain 
Unnumbered  thousands  here,  and  fertilized 
Their  fruitful  fields  with  blood.     Yes,  blood  has  flowed 
In  copious  streams  through  dreary  centuries 
Of  fratricidal  strife.     War's  iron  hoof, 
Trampling  on  civil  law,  has  crushed  in  dust 
All  sacred  human  rights;  with  impious  tread 
Profaned  all  holy  places.     Peace  perished. 
Religion  hid  in  humble  cottage  homes. 
Where  heavenly  light  still  glimmered  mid  the  gloom. 
Justice  was  outraged — fled  beyond  the  seas, 
And  bleeding  freedom  followed  in  her  train. 
The  hand  of  industry  was  paralyzed, 
The  wheels  of  progress  clogged.     Art  languished, 
While  star-eyed  science,  shudd'ring  and  dismayed, 
Took  refuge  in  far-distant  Moslem  lands. 

Michael.  But  now  how  changed !  These  happy  islanders 
Shed  no  fraternal  blood.     Justice  protects 
All  classes :  the  prince,  the  peer,  the  peasant. 
Law,  liberty,  and  love  enthrone  themselves 
In  hearts  that  thrill  with  joyous  gratitude. 
Ecligion  kindles  pure  celestial  fires 
In  princely  palaces,  in  humble  homes, 
In  gorgeous  temples,  and  in  darksome  mines. 
Her  hymns  of  praise  ring  grandly  through  the  land, 
And  float  toward  heaven  on  every  breeze  that  blows. 
Britannia's  wat'ry  walls,  by  hearts  of  oak 
Well  guarded,  give  calm  security  to 
Peaceful  homes  against  all  foreign  nations. 
A  native  king  sits  on  her  royal  throne, 
And  hurls  defiance  at  her  every  foe. 
lie  wields  his  scepter  over  distant  lands 
In  all  earth's  continents.     Fair,  fertile  isles 
Of  all  the  sunny  seas  obey  his  laws. 
In  widening  streams  wealth  from  the  Indies  flows 
To  fill  his  coffers  and  extend  his  sway. 
This  busy  London,  central  mart  of  trade, 
Most  active  ant-hill  of  the  human  race, 


WEST.M I  X.-STKK    A BBEY. 


8  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Outgrows  all  cities  earth  has  ever  seen. 
In  days  to  come  so  great  will  be  its  growth 
That  Paris,  Pekin,  Nankin,  Jeddo,  .Rome, 
Might  all  be  piled  in  splendor  on  its  plains, 
Lost  in  the  pomp  of  its  magnificence. 
How  wonderful  this  little  island  world ! 

Gabriel.  Michael,  thy  wisely  spoken,  truthful  words 
Befit  the  tongue  of  one  who  long  has  watched 
The  rise  and  fall  of  empires.     But  yesterday 
Blind  folly  aimed  a  blow  at  human  rights, 
That  soon  shall  echo  loudly  round  the  world. 
If  I  forecast  aright,  'twill  break  the  ties 
That  bind  Americans  to  England's  throne, 
And  lay  in  rightful,  honest  principles 
The  firm  foundations  of  a  government 
Better  than  earth  has  ever  known  before. 
Its  peaceful  flag  shall  float  triumphantly 
O'er  sea  and  land  through  all  the  hemisphere 
Columbus  found  by  sailing  westwardly. 
This  mighty  nation,  now  in  embryo, 
Shall  be  a  "  Greater  Britain,"  which  in  time, 
By  the  attraction  of  its  excellence, 
Shall  draw  admiring  millions  to  its  shores, 
And  neighb'ring  nations  to  its  kind  embrace, 
Till  myriads  of  enlightened  freemen  join 
To  honor  law  and  banish  tyranny. 

Michael.  Gabriel,why  should  not  Britain  still  hold  sway, 
Guiding  America  with  gentle  hand 
Through  peaceful  paths  to  glory  and  renown  ? 
Why  should  they  not  munificently  march 
Together,  scattering  blessings  round  the  world  ? 

Gabriel.  Michael,  they  should,  but  selfishness  forbids ; 
A  few  self-centered  fosterlings  of  hell 
May  yet  involve  two  continents  in  war, 
And  rend  the  grandest  empire  under  heaven. 
This  nation  had  for  its  Prime  Minister 
Wise  William  Pitt.     His  statesmanship 
Made  no  mistakes.     'Twas  such  as  we  beheld 


PITT '  S  ADMINISTRATION. 

In  saintly  Daniel  at  the  Persian  court. 
He  found  his  country  fleeing  from  her  foes, 
To  be  the  prey  of  harpies  in  her  home; 
Corruption's  vermin  in  her  ulcers  fed ; 
No  hand  was  raised  to  help  her  in  distress. 
He  to  her  rescue  rushed  to  bring  relief, 


ALFRED  THE  GREAT. 


And  heal  the  fest'ring  wounds  from  which  she  bled. 
The  venal  factions  fled  before  his  frown, 
The  cringing  courtiers  from  his  shadow  shrunk. 
His  patriot  voice  called  heroes,  and  they  came, 
To  marshal  armies  and  command  his  fleets, 
Giving  him  victories  on  land  and  sea. 


10  THE  AMEKICAN  EPIC. 

He  brought  the  nation  to  the  highest  pitch 

Of  unexampled  grandeur  and  renown, 

And  would  have  held  the  vantage  he  had  gained 

Had  not  the  youthful  king,  by  Satan  moved, 

Dismissed  the  minister  whose  mighty  mind 

O'ershadowed  royalty  and  with  strong  hand 

Heroically  saved  country  and  king 

Prom  self-inflicted  ruin  and  distress. 

Then  came  the  pressing  need  of  untold  wealth 

To  settle  debts,  and  meet  the  urgent  claims 

Of  bold,  insatiate,  fawning  favorites. 

Commerce  with  open  hand  would  have  paid  Pitt 

All  needed  revenues,  trusting  his  plans 

To  pay  her  back  again  a  thousand-fold, 

By  fost'ring  trade  in  cv'ry  distant  mart; 

But  blund'ring  imbeciles  are  in  his  place. 

Grenville  proposes  awkward  robbery, 

And  through  the  Parliament  asserts  a  right 

To  tax  the  colonists  without  consent, 

Not  merely  once  a  year,  but  ev'ry  hour 

Of  ev'ry  busy  day,  the  Stamp  act  taunts, 

And  aggravates  the  honest  man  it  robs. 

'Twill  hound  him  through  the  avenues  of  trade, 

Track  him  to  legal  courts  with  steady  step, 

Intrude  upon  his  happy  nuptial  hours, 

Pursue  him  to  his  solemn  death-bed  scene, 

Nor  let  him  will  his  fortune  to  his  heirs, 

Without  this  sad  humiliating  sign 

Of  his  own  degradation  in  the  act. 

Lot  us  away  to  climes  beyond  the  waves 

And  watch  the  storms  that  rend  this  mighty  State. 

Michael.  Gabriel,  not  now.     I  go  at  duty's  call 
To  distant  Asia,  where  Britannia's  flag 
Floats  o'er  the  sunny  shores  of  Ilindostan. 
It  now  protects  the  selfish  sons  of  trade, 
But  in  the  happier  days  of  years  to  come 
One-third  of  Asia's  children  shall  with  joy 
Serve  the  Lord  Jesus  under  its  broad  folds. 
A  year  from  now  that  western  hemisphere 
Shall  claim  attention  through  its  vast  extent. 


THE  AMERICAN  CONTINENT.  11 

I  will  examine  it  from  pole  to  pole, 

And  from  the  centers  of  surrounding  seas, 

On  what  day  shall  we  meet?  and  at  what  place? 

Gabriel.  Let  us  meet  May  the  first,  and  at  the  place 
Where  the  first  British  settlement  began. 
Til^then,  farewell.     But  who  are  these  we  see 
Moving  so  orderly  at  early  dawn  ? 

Michael.  "Tis  the  two  Weslcys  and  their  followers, 
Going  to  worship  God  at  break  of  day. 
These  are  the  servants  of  the  Lord.     Farewell. 

Scene:   Jamestown,   Va.,  May  1,  1765,  at  sunrise.    GABRIEL  and 
MICHAEL  approach. 

Gabriel.  Hail,  Michael,  of  created  princes  chief! 
Please  tell  thy  thoughts  of  this  grand  continent, 
And  the  great  nation  that  shall  flourish  here. 

Michael.  Gabriel,  since  last  we  met,  this  hemisphere 
Has  been  my  constant  study.     I  have  seen 
Its  boundless  oceans,  fertile  isles,  vast  lakes, 
Broad  bays,  safe  harbors,  long  peninsulas; 
Its  lofty  mountains;  rich,  productive  vales; 
Its  wide  savannas,  decked  in  Eden's  bloom; 
Its  tow'ring  forests,  lifting  giant  arms 
To  prop  the  clouds  and  draw  their  moisture  down 
On  fruitful  plains,  where  plenty  ever  smiles. 
Hero  bounteous  nature  gathers  ample  stores 
To  feast  her  ev'ry  tribe  that  treads  the  ground, 
Or  cleaves  the  ambient  air  on  buoyant  wing, 
Or  glides  in  glory  through  the  sparkling  waves. 
With  steadfast  gaze  I've  watched  where  rippling  rills 
On  lofty  mountains  in  the  frozen  north 
Make  pathways  for  themselves  through  frowning  rocks, 
To  seek  the  company  of  limpid  streams, 
That  hasten  to  unite  with  rivulets, 
That  gently  moving  claim  companionship 
With  grand,  majestic  rivers  on  their  march 
T'  assuage  the  burning  thirst  of  sunny  climes. 
Intensely  interested,  I  have  traced 
The  mountain  ranges  that  direct  the  course 


12  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Of  healthful  currents  of  the  atmosphere. 

I've  seen  the  arctic  icebergs  moving  down, 

To  meet  the  genial  warmth  of  tropic  stream s, 

And  lave  these  favored  shores  with  waves  of  health. 

The  earth,  the  air,  the  waters  teem  with  food; 

Exhaustless  mines  of  ore  lift  up  the  hills, 

Inviting  industry  to  gather  wealth. 

Internal  commerce  may  be  limitless, 

And  claim  with  ease  the  commerce  of  the  world. 

Earth's  grandest  seat  of  empire  here  is  found. 

Tell  me,  dear  Gabriel,  of  the  men  who  claim 

This  happy  land  and  its  encircling  seas. 

Gabriel.  Michael,  the  swarthy  tribes  Columbus  found, 
Self-doomed,  seem  swiftly  journeying  to  death. 
The  white  man's  vices,  added  to  their  own, 
Hurry  them  downward  into  gaping  graves, 
Yet  a  small  remnant  may  be  paved  by  grace. 
Pitt,  in  his  day  of  power,  subdued  the  French. 
Spain,  trembling,  saw  her  colonies  submit, 
And  must  have  yielded  all,  if  England's  king 
Had  not  dismissed  his  mighty  minister. 
But  Spain  decays,  and  England's  sons  hold  sway. 
Here  is  the  spot  where  English  piety 
First  claimed  this  hemisphere  for  the  most  high. 
Here  liberty  and  law  came  hand  in  hand 
To  plant  an  Eden  in  the  wilderness. 
Here  holy  faith  and  hope  and  love  and  truth 
And  lofty  honor  firm  foundations  laid 
For  a  great  nation ;  noblest,  grandest,  best 
Known  to  the  world  through  all  its  centuries. 
Religion  here  lit  her  first  altar  fires, 
Built  her  first  temple  on  this  continent, 
Where  English  hearts  might  worship  the  Great  God. 
Here  Western  savages  bowed  suppliant  knees, 
And  meekly  claimed  the  Saviour  as  their  own. 
From  this  bright  spot  went  forth  with  joyous  smiles 
All  human  excellences,  leading  on 
All  Christian  graces  to  exalt  mankind. 
In  their  fair  footsteps  rose  on  every  hand 
Such  habitations  as  the  angels  love, 


VIRGINIANS  BRING  RELIGION.  13 

Having  for  inmates  earth's  most  noble  men, 
And  women  loveliest  of  all  the  race. 
From  these  have  sprung  the  principles  and  men 
That  are  to  govern  this  delightful  land. 
What  think  you  of  our  nascent  nation  now? 

Michael.  Gabriel,  I  am  most  hopeful  of  its  growth 
In  all  that  God  approves  and  men  admire, 
But  lead  me  now  where  I  myself  may  see 
The  rock  on  which  the  Plymouth  pilgrims  stood 
When  they  first  landed  in  America. 
Was  it  not  there  that  English  liberty 
First  found  a  home  upon  this  continent, 
And  English  Protestants  first  worshiped  God? 

Gabriel.  Michael,  'tis  so  reported,  but  not  so. 
That  far-famed  rock  defies  the  howling  storms 
That  beat  in  fury  on  New  England's  coast, 
Five  hundred  miles  away,  far  to  the  north. 
I  knew  that  earth  and  hell  had  long  proclaimed 
That  Plymouth  Rock  was  freedom's  natal  home, 
And  pure  religion's  earliest  cradle-bed, 
But  marvel  much  if  Heav'n  has  been  deceived! 
'Twas  not  in  heaven  that  you  were  so  informed  ? 
I  knew  it  could  not  be.     Such  history 
May  have  been  taught  at  Harvard  or  at  Yale. 
Those  grand  old  schools,  where  wise  men  of  the  East 
Proclaim  New  England's  glory  and  renown, 
May  have  taught  this  so  long,  so  heartily 
That  they  believe  it  in  their  inmost  souls; 
But  long  before  the  Pilgrim  Fathers  left 
The  muddy  shore  of  Holland  Robert  Hunt 
And  his  co-laborers  had  worshiped  God 
And  planted  churches  in  this  colony, 
Where  prayer  and  praise  and  God's  most  holy  word 
Drew  forth  the  inmates  of  a  thousand  homes 
Whene'er  a  Sabbath  brought  relief  from  toil. 
Such  happy  homes  earth  never  saw  before. 
In  them  Religion  wore  no  scowling  frown, 
But  sweetly  told  of  love  and  hope  and  joy, 
While  smiles  of  God  lit  with  celestial  rays 


14  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  glowing  face  of  Hospitality, 

Who  stood  with  open  door  and  beck'ning  hand, 

While  Plenty  welcomed  every  joyful  guest. 

These  pioneers  of  English  liberty, 

These  missionaries  of  the  faith  of  Christ, 

Had  founded  Churches,  opened  courts  of  law; 

By  vote  had  chosen  representatives 

To  the  first  Legislature  of  the  West, 

Established  civil  liberty,  and  won 

Their  Indian  neighbors  for  the  Lord  before 

The  famous  Mayflower  sailed  across  the  deep. 

Michael.  Then  it  was  not  on  famous  Plymouth  Rock 
Religion,  liberty,  and  civil  law 
Began  their  grand  career  in  Western  wilds  ? 

Gabriel.  No,  Michael;  but  permit  me  now  to  say; 
All  honor  to  the  men  of  Plymouth  Rock  ! 
New  England  has  no  need  of  stolen  fame. 
Ten  thousand  glories  sparkle  on  her  brow, 
Fame's  greenest  laurels  bend  above  her  head. 
Her  restless  industry,  inventive  skill, 
And  boundless  enterprise  have  made  a  world 
Pay  tribute  at  her  gates.     Her  busy  hand 
Planted  a  fair  and  fruitful  paradise, 
Where  barren  rocks  and  thirsty,  sterile  sands 
Frowned  on  a  stormy  coast.     In  distant  seas 
She  sought  and  found  rich  floating  mines  of  wealth; 
Transferred  the  yellow  treasure  to  her  ships, 
And  bore  it  safely  to  her  busy  ports. 
All  coming  generations  of  her  sons 
Shall  sing  her  well-earned  praises  through  the  world. 
But  in  this  sisterhood  of  colonies 
Are  others  high  in  honor  and  renown. 
Fair  Georgia,  youngest  of  the  family, 
Was  nurtured  in  the  lap  of  piety, 
Is  heir  of  Oglethorpe's  heroic  zeal, 
Of  Whitefield's  eloquence,  and  Wesley's  prayers. 
The  Carolinas,  wise,  polite,  and  brave, 
Blend  Huguenot  and  Scotch  and  English  blood. 
New  Jersey,  Delaware,  and  Maryland, 


ANCESTORS  OF  AMERICANS.  15 

In  all  the  Christian  virtues  panoplied, 
Kepose  in  loveliness  by  their  broad  bays. 
Great  Pennsylvania  grows  rich  and  strong 
With  German  industry  and  Quaker  thrift. 
New  York  can  boast  the  brave  and  valiant  blood 
That  drove  the  Spaniards  from  the  Netherlands. 
These  embryonic  States  draw  vital  force, 
Hereditary  virtues,  and  the  strength 
Of  Christian  principles  from  num'rous  lines 
Of  grand  old  ancestors.     Here  meet  and  join 
The  Norman,  Saxon,  Celt,  the  Cavalier, 
The  Covenanter,  Eoundhead,  and  the  Welsh ; 
French  Huguenots,  brave  Irishmen  and  Swedes, 
Heroic  Poles,  Swiss,  Germans,  Hollanders — 
All  sons  of  liberty  in  union  joined. 

ABDIEL  approaches  and  addresses  MICHAEL  and  GABRIEL. 

Abdiel.  Hail,  holy  princes  of  the  hosts  of  God! 
To  meet  you  here  gives  unexpected  joy: 
Your  presence  fills  all  places  with  delight. 
At  your  approach  all  anxious  cares  depart, 
Gay  smiles  irradiate  the  cheeks  of  time, 
And  make  them  glow  with  dimpled,  youthful  charms, 
While  gleeful  gladness  sports  with  playful  hours. 
But  now  your  presence  is  most  opportune : 
I  need  instruction  and  enlightenment 
On  great  events  transpiring  in  this  land. 
Portentous  gloom  seems  gathering  around, 
As  if  preceding  mighty  earthquake  throes. 
Alarming  rumblings  break  upon  the  ear, 
And  startling  tremors  shake  the  solid  ground. 
Throughout  the  north,  excitement  rules  the  hour. 
The  Stamp  act  rouses  men  to  mutiny. 
Here  order  reigns.     These  people  live  at  ease; 
In  quiet  dignity  they  dwell  at  home. 
They  have  no  grievances  to  madden  them, 
Hereditary  hatreds  they  have  not. 
They  are  the  favored  subjects  of  their  king, 
His  "  Old  Dominion  "  is  their  lovely  land. 
If  they  demand,  the  Stamp  act  perishes, 
And  mild  conciliation  rules  around. 


16  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Happy,  unselfish,  prosperous,  polite, 

They  have  not  hastily  provoked  the  king; 

And  on  a  simple  question  of  finance 

Would  freely  grant  him  more  than  he  would  ask ; 

But  on  a  point  of  honor  or  of  right 

Their  indignation  flashes  into  wrath. 

They  know  their  rights,  and,  brave  in  their  defense, 

Would  meet  defiantly  a  world  in  arms; 

Or,  moved  by  sympathy  for  other  men, 

Their  gushing  blood  may  flow  in  plenteous  streams. 

This  day  Virginia's  House  of  Burgesses 

Convenes  at  Williamsburg  in  high  debate. 

Ithuriel  went  thither  yesterday 

To  witness  the  proceedings  of  the  day. 

Gabriel.  Let  us  go  now  to  see  what  they  will  do, 
And  listen  to  the  matchless  orators. 

Scene :  A  street  in  Williamsburg.   Afternoon  of  May  1,  1765.    ITIIU- 
EIEL  meeting  MICHAEL,  GABRIEL,  and  ABDIEL. 

Ithuriel.  Comrades,  I  greet  you  with  intense  delight. 
The  legislators  of  this  colony 
Have  tilled  us  with  astonishment  to-day. 
Your  wisdom  may  inform  my  ignorance 
On  the  great  themes  discussed  by  statesmen  here. 
The  House  of  Burgesses  denies  the  right 
Of  Parliament  to  tax  the  colonies. 
They  boldly  and  defiantly  demand 
That  the  most  odious  Stump  act  be  repealed. 
One  of  their  orators  made  such  a  speech 
As  shook  the  ground  beneath  King  George's  throne, 
And  startled  nations  by  its  mighty  force. 
Men  shuddered  as  they  heard  the  brave  man  say 
"Caesar  his  Brutus  had,  and  Charles  the  First 
His  CroVnwell,  and  George  the  Third  " — then  treason 
Rang  out  loudly  on  the  air.     Defiant 
Stood  the  orator  to  say :  "  George  the  Third 
May  profit  by  their  fate."     Then  scornfully: 
"  If  that  be  treason,  make  the  most  of  it." 
In  former  times  such  fearless  words  as  these 


VIRGINIA'S  MATCHLESS  STATESMEN.  17 

Took  off  the  heads  of  those  who  uttered  them ; 

But  now  they  bring  the  hope  of  better  days. 

You  are  too  late  to  hear  their  great  men  speak, 

But  see,  they  come  this  way.     What  men  they  are! 

Borne  never  had  in  her  heroic  times 

A  Senate  such  as  this.     Britannia's  lords 

Are  dwarfed  by  these  great  statesmen  of  the  West. 

There  is  George  Wythe,  and  Richard  Henry  Lee, 

George  Nicholas,  and  Edmund  Pendleton, 

John  Randolph,  Peyton  Randolph,  Colonel  Bland, 

And  Carter  Braxton ;  and  there  the  hero 

Of  the  present  hour,  bold  Patrick  Henry, 

Orator  unequaled,  whose  thunder  tones 

Shake  kingdoms  and  arouse  a  wond'ring  world. 

And  there  George  Washington,  grandest  of  men. 

Behold  that  tall,  slim  youth,  thoughtful  and  grave: 

Too  young  to  be  a  burgess  at  this  time. 

That's  Thomas  Jefferson,  whose  honored  name 

Shall  echo  through  the  ages  as  the  friend 

Of  equal  rights  against  all  tyranny. 

And  there  are  others  worthy  of  all  praise. 

Ye  sapient  leaders  of  angelic  hosts, 

Tell  us  what  mean  these  movements  of  mankind? 

Will  God  forsake  and  turn  against  King  George? 

Will  Britain  fall  like  Babylon  or  Rome  ? 

Will  God  raise  up  a  nation  on  these  shores  ? 

Michael.  God  will  not  utterly  forsake  the  king 
And  the  great  country  over  which  he  rules, 
But  they  will  lose  these  prosp'rous  colonies — 
Just  retribution  for  their  many  sins 
Against  their  brethren  of  this  Western  world. 
God  will  raise  up  a  nation  on  these  shores, 
And  give  to  it  the  half  of  this  round  world. 
The  western  hemisphere  shall  be  its  home, 
But  all  mankind  shall  gladden  in  its  smile. 
Humiliation  is  proud  Albion's  doom, 
But  God  has  wondrous  work  for  her  to  do. 
She  and  these  daughters  she  so  rashly  spurns 
Shall  long  stand  side  by  side  in  truth's  defense, 
And  bless  the  world  with  Christian  principles. 
2 


18  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Gabriel.  Comrades,  what  has  been  witnessed  here  to-day 
Begins  a  union  of  these  colonies. 
The  cities  have  been  ringing  muffled  bells, 
Mourning  for  liberty  by  Britain  slain. 
The  Congress  at  New  York  with  potent  voice 
Shall  call  her  back  to  life,  and  bid  mankind 
Jiejoicing  gather  to  enjoy  her  smile. 
Till  then  we  part  to  go  where  duty  calls. 

Scene:  Trinity  Church-yard,  Broadway,  New  York,  by  moonlight, 
December  31-January  /,  1766.  GABRIEL,  ITHUKIEL,  ABUIEL,  Uz- 
ZIEL.  A  clock  strikes  twelve. 

Gabriel.  Another  year  has  passed.     Its  hasty  steps 
Have  left  deep  foot-prints  upon  Time's  rough  road ; 
Its  busy  hands  have  forged  enduring  links 
For  destiny's  bright  chain,  binding  with  gold 
In  loving  union  these  rich  colonies. 
Its  voice  has  roused  the  sons  of  liberty 
From  Southern  Georgia  to  the  coasts  of  Maine. 

Ithuriel.  Brave  Patrick  Henry,  in  Virginia's  name, 
First  hurled  defiance  at  the  robber  hosts 
Of  venal  lords  and  commons  and  their  king. 
Millions,  responding  to  his  thunder  tones, 
Caused  quailing  minions  of  despotic  greed, 
Though  backed  by  Britain's  might  and  majesty, 
To  throw  up  their  commissions,  and  with  haste 
Forsake  the  hateful  ways  of  infamy. 

Uzziel.  Here  in  New  York  the  craven  officer 
Gave  to  the  city  council  his  vile  stamps. 
Thus  do  the  people  triumph  o'er  the  king. 

Abdiel.  Gabriel,  what  next  ?    Shall  war  with  cruel  hand 
Spread  desolation  o'er  this  Western  world  ? 

Gabriel.  Abdiel,  not  yet;  this  law  will  be  repealed, 
And  but  for  stubborn  pride  and  selfish  greed 
A  happy  reconcilement  might  take  place. 
King  George  means  to  be  better  than  he  is. 
If  he  could  be  a  private  citizen, 
He  would  appear  to  be  a  model  saint, 
A  Christian  gentleman  to  be  admired. 


GOOD  AND  BAD  IN  KING  GEORGE.  19 

He  frowns  on  vice,  is  honest,  truthful,  chaste, 

Hates  war,  aims  not  at  conquests,  loves  England ; 

But  he  thinks  a  king  must  rule :  a  king  must 

Be  obeyed,  must  overawe  his  subjects. 

With  this  in  view,  he  browbeats  wiser  men, 

And  those  he  cannot  frighten  tries  to  buy. 

He  thinks  men  have  their  price  and  are  for  sale, 

From  basest  menials  up  through  ev'ry  rank. 

"Pis  even  whispered  he  will  try  to  buy, 

With  a  poor,  paltry  earldom  and  kind  words, 

Great  William  Pitt,  the  grandest  of  mankind. 

The  king  spends  thirty  millions  annually 

Buying  white  free-born  native  Englishmen. 

That  he  may  have  more  money  to  buy  men, 

Inflicts  the  slave  trade  on  his  colonies, 

Tramples  on  law  and  right  and  common  sense 

By  taxing  those  he  has  no  right  to  tax. 

The  venal  Parliament,  like  cringing  slaves, 

Wait  on  his  royal  will  for  smiles,  for  wealth, 

For  titles,  honors,  and  for  offices. 

The  vilest  of  them  all  have  English  pride ; 

With  fancied  self-sufficiency  look  down 

On  all  who  were  not  born  on  English  ground. 

The  wealthy  nobles  may  not  sell  themselves 

For  filthy  lucre,  payable  in  coin ; 

But  if  a  farthing  added  to  their  tax 

Would  save  from  ruin  a  whole  continent, 

They  would  resist  it  to  the  last  extreme, 

Nor  pay  a  copper  till  the  law  compelled. 

The  laborer  may  toil  in  agony, 

Till  bloody  sweat  breaks  forth  from  every  pore; 

Taxes  may  kill  him  if  they  may  escape. 

What  if  the  Hindoos  starve,  the  negroes  sink 

Beneath  old  ocean's  waves,  in  frontier  homes 

Fair  women  lose  their  scalps,  so  Britain's  wealth, 

Her  glory  and  renown,  be  the  result  ?      v 

Abdiel.  Gabriel,  there  must  be  better  men  than  these 
Or  Sodom's  fate  would  overwhelm  the  land. 

Gabriel.  Yes,  Abdiel,  there  are  thousands  who  believe 
In  God,  in  Christ,  in  Christian  principles; 


20  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

But  most  of  these  so  idolize  their  king, 
Their  Parliament,  and  their  own  native  land, 
That  all  who  dare  resist  them  are  despised. 
The  few  true  friends  the  colonies  can  claim, 
They  count  upon  the  fingers  of  a  man. 
Pitt,  Shelburne,  Conway,  Barre,  and  Oglethorpe, 
With  Burke  and  Camdon  faintly  following, 
Compriae  the  names  that  dare  to  sympathize. 
Unthinking  millions  live  and  toil  and  die, 
Leaving  their  offspring  following  in  their  steps. 
Such  is  the  best  of  human  governments. 
Is  it  not  time  a  better  should  arise  ? 

Abdiel.  Yes,  Gabriel,  this  broad  wilderness  shall  bloom, 
And  this  shall  be  the  grandest  of  all  lands. 
God  sifted  Europe  for  the  best  of  seed, 
To  plant  a  nation  he  will  own  and  bless. 
All  human  excellences  here  shall  meet 
Under  divinest  blessings  from  on  high. 
Earth  shall  behold  with  wonder  and  delight 
And  holy  angels  guard  its  happy  homes. 
Let  us  depart  each  to  his  proper  work, 
But  see  the  patriots  Jay  and  Livingston ! 
They've  watched  the  old  year  out,  the  new  year  in. 


BOOK  SECOND. 


Scene:  Gambrell 's  Hitt,  Richmond,  Fa.,  March  1,  1766.    SATAN'S 
Soliloquy. 

Satan.  Remorse !  remorse !  remorse !    Fierce,  horrible, 
Insatiate  harpy  preying  upon  guilt. 
But  why  should  I  repine  ?     My  pride  forbids 
The  useless  whispering  of  vain  regrets. 
If  penitence  could  plead,  'twould  plead  in  vain. 
Ruined!  doomed!  damned!    Despairing  agony 
Drives  hence  all  thoughts  of  possible 
Relief.     Even  forgetfulness  flies  far, 
On  swiftest  wing,  from  writhing  wretchedness; 
Pours  no  Lethean  drop  into  the  cup 
Of  sinful  anguish.     She  strews  no  restful 
Down  o'er  sleepless  beds  of  sin's  sad  victims. 
Helpless!     Undone  forever!     Bound  in  the 
(railing  chains  of  ever  black'ning  darkness. 
Unceasing  torment  is  my  dreadful  doom, 
And  fearful  looking  for  of  fiery  wrath. 
Just  retribution !     I  was  first  to  sin. 

Such  scenes  as  this,  earth's  fairest,  brightest,  best, 
Most  comforting,  give  no  surcease  of  pain. 
These  wooded  heights  and  this  majestic  stream 
Remind  me  of  my  days  of  innocence 
And  heavenly  landscapes  I  shall  see  no  more. 
These  dear,  delightful  homes,  the  blest  abodes 
Of  Adam's  noblest  offspring,  recall  to 
Fond  and  mournful  memory,  the  blissful 
Joys  that  waited  on  God's  angel  children 
When  first  they  woke  to  life,  to  light,  to  love 
On  the  bright  morning  of  their  natal  day. 
Peace  walks  the  earth  in  smiling  loveliness; 
And  plenty,  tripping  lightly  in  her  steps, 
Thrills  human  hearts  with  rapturous  delight. 

(21) 


22  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Keligion,  science,  industry  combine 

To  elevate  the  families  of  men, 

That  they  may  gladden  in  the  smile  of  God, 

While  on  my  vitals  pent-up  furies  prey. 

Britannia  sways  her  scepter  o'er  the  seas, 

And  steps  from  land  to  land  in  majesty, 

Triumphant  over  all  her  ancient  foes. 

They  seek  her  friendship  as  they  dread  her  might. 

All  Europe  sits  admiring  at  her  feet. 

Old  Asia  rests  supinely  with  her  sons, 

Amid  the  hoary  ruins  of  all  time, 

In  meek  submission  taking  on  the  yoke 

Of  these  her  latest,  noblest  conquerors; 

While  helpless  Africa  with  outstretched  arms 

Sees  from  her  dusky  bosom  her  dark  brood 

Snatched  by  the  ruthless  hand  of  cruelty, 

That  Britain  and  New  England  may  grow  rich 

By  trading  rum  for  servile  sons  of  Ham. 

'Tis  true  the  slave  trade  flourishes, 

And  feasts  the  hungry  sharks  on  filthy  flesh 

Of  dead  and  dying  negroes.     But  ages 

Of  most  hopeless  degradation  have  doomed 

The  race  to  end  in  cruel  deaths,  lives  of 

Despairing  agony.     No  chance  or  change 

Makes  their  condition  worse  than  that  of  their 

Long  line  of  barb'rous  ancestors.     Indeed, 

These  kindly,  careful,  Christian  mistresses 

Have  so  emparadised  their  happy  slaves 

That  I  must  seek  new  marts  in  Orient  lands 

For  this  nefarious  human  merchandise, 

Or  my  malicious  schemes  to  eternize 

The  woes  of  Africans  will  counteract 

My  own  most  wily  plans.     The  savage  tribes 

That  tread  the  Western  wilds  live  peaceably. 

There's  not  a  wigwam  home  or  warlike  chief 

But  owns  the  potent  spell  of  England's  name. 

These  peaceful  times  hang  heavily  upon 

My  restless  energies.     The  trifling  sins 

By  which  the  common  herd  of  men  insult 

Their  God  and  wrong  their  fellow-men  require 

No  care  of  mine.     I  must  have  war.     With  war 


CONDITION  OF  ASIA   AND  EUROPE.  23 

Comes  all  that  God  forbids,  all  man  can  do 
To  injure  and  degrade  the  human  race. 

Enter  BAAL,  AZAZEL,  and  MAMMON. 

All  hail!  my  trusted,  wise  compeers;  all  hail! 
What  of  your  conflicts  with  the  hateful  race 
Whose  misery  so  long  has  been  our  sport  ? 
Speak,  Baal,  tell  us  of  your  worthy  deeds. 

Baal.  I  have  been  ranging  through  the  courts  of  kings 
And  other  rulers  of  the  Orient. 
The  tycoon  still  permits  no  intercourse 
Between  Japan  and  hated  foreigners. 
Old  China,  with  a  third  of  all  the  race, 
Excludes  outside  barbarians  from  her  shores. 
Their  presence  would,  she  thinks,  pollute  the  soil 
Of  her  celestial,  central,  flowery  land. 
But  rulers  and  their  subjects  all  are  ours. 
Japan  and  China  wear  our  weighty  chains: 
No  voice  disputes  our  long-established  sway. 
The  Shah  of  Persia  sees  his  realms  decay, 
Submits  to  destiny  without  a  sigh. 
So  of  the  Turkish  sultan  and  the  sons 
Of  Saracenic  chiefs  in  Hindostan. 
The  thrones  of  Moslem  rulers  tottering, 
And  gilded  scepters  dropping  from  weak  hands, 
Foretoken  revolutions  soon  to  come. 
Clive  and  his  English  merchants  with  strong  hands 
Lay  helpless  India  bleeding  at  their  feet; 
But  all  are  ours,  the  conq'rors  and  their  slaves. 

Satan.  Now,  Azazel,  let  us  hear  your  report. 

Azazel.  I  have  been  watching  Europe.    Cossack  hordes 
Only  await  lascivious  Cath'rine's  word 
To  arm  by  millions  as  she  sends  them  forth 
To  devastate  and  conquer  neighb'ring  lands. 
This  huge  despotic  empire,  like  some  vast 
Avalanche,  throws  its  cold  shadow  over 
Two  continents,  threat'ning  to  fall  upon 
And  crush  the  shudd'ring  nations  all  around. 
Great  Frederick  baffles  all  of  Prussia's  foes. 


24  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Defeats  have  shown  him  paths  to  victory. 

He  triumphs  over  kings  and  emperors. 

Fair  Italy,  still  fettered,  languishes 

In  Austria's  baleful  shadow.     The  pontiff, 

Triple  crowned  and  doubly  throned  on  seven  hills, 

Sits  like  an  incubus  on  half  the  world. 

The  Kings  of  Spain  and  France  degenerate. 

No  thoughts  of  statesmanship  stir  their  dull  brains. 

These  worthless  sons  of  Henry  of  Navarre 

Live  only  for  their  lusts  and  appetites. 

The  Portuguese,  the  petty  German  States, 

Swiss,  Belgians,  Hollanders,  Poles,  Danes,  and  Swedes, 

Require  no  comments  here.     But  Choiseui 

At  St.  Cloud  watches  the  English  closely, 

Hoping  to  see  their  colonies  detached 

And  lost  forever  to  the  British  crown. 

To  you,  O  leader  of  our  busy  hosts, 

I  must  report  the  writings  of  Rousseau, 

Voltaire,  and  other  authors  less  conspicuous. 

These  work  a  silent  revolution  in 

The  minds  of  readers,  tending  to  o'erthrow 

All  confidence  in  God,  in  priest,  in  kings, 

And  human  government.     Unbridled  lusts 

Cast  off  all  decency,  all  fear  of  God 

In  those  who  follow  these  admired  men. 

They  sugar-coat  or  gild  their  mental  pills 

With  science,  art,  and  literary  taste, 

And  schemes  for  elevating  all  mankind. 

Their  inspiration  must  have  come  from  you, 

Our  sapient  chief,  or  they  could  not  have  been 

So  wondrous  shrewd  in  helping  our  designs. 

I  leave  their  books  to  you.     Let  Mammon  speak. 

Satan.  But  suffer  me  to  say  that  subjects,  kings, 
And  literati  all  belong  to  us. 
Yes,  Mammon,  I  committed  to  your  care 
Your  clients  of  New  England  and  their  king, 
With  questions  of  taxation  and  finance. 
You  have  for  ages  had  your  sovereign  will 
Without  constraint  from  me.     I  trust  you  still. 
Proceed  with  your  report.     We  wait  to  hear. 


DISCONTENT  OF  COLONISTS.  25 

Mammon.  Two  years  have  passed  since  Grenvillle 

moved  the  king 

And  Parliament  to  tax  Americans 
By  what  is  called  the  Stamp  act.     Discontent 
Mutters  and  growls  in  every  colony, 
As  if  'twould  bite  the  hand  stretched  out  to  seize 
Its  treasured  hoards.     Lawyers  and  merchants  prate 
Of  rights  and  robberies,  and  utter  threats 
Of  stern  resistance  to  tyrannic  power. 
They  say  the  stamps  shall  not  be  introduced, 
Nor  even  offered  to  indignant  men. 
A  wordy  warfare  everywhere  prevails: 
All  men  expectant  wait  for  bloody  deeds. 

Satan.  Mammon,  enough  of  words.     I  want  not  words, 
But  manly  forms  writhing  in  agony: 
I  must  have  war  to  rouse  my  intellect 
And  gratify  malignant,  fiendish  hate. 
But  how  ?     The  nations  dread  Britannia's  pow'r. 
They  fear  to  strike  the  mistress  of  the  sea. 
King  George  and  all  his  cabinet  love  peace. 
They  have  the  strength  to  conquer  half  a  world, 
But  live  at  ease  and  most  ingloriously 
Turn  from  the  priceless  prizes  they  could  grasp. 
They  will  not  even  strike  these  colonists, 
Whoso  upstart  boldness  calls  for  chastisement, 
But  prate  of  England's  glory,  her  renown, 
Her  king's  prerogatives,  her  Parliament, 
Its  right  to  tax,  and  how,  and  when,  and  whom. 
Meanwhile,  by  their  neglect  the  world  grows  rich, 
The  nations  prosper,  while  earth's  myriad  homes 
Gather  about  them  all  that  gladdens  life. 
I  must  have  war  to  revel  in  its  sins, 
To  gloat  upon  the  miseries  of  men. 
I'll  have  it.     These  colonists  are  cautious: 
For  them  we  wait  in  vain.     They  shed  no  blood. 
Comrades,  we  cross  the  ocean.     In  London 
Meet  me  two  weeks  from  to-day.     Be  promptly 
In  the  House  of  Commons  then,  to  make  them 
Execute  our  wrathful  plans  of  carnage. 
Lord  Botetourt,  Virginia's  Governor, 
Is  drawing  near,  taking  his  daily  walk. 


26  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene :  Interior  of  the  House  of  Commons.  March  18, 1766.     Enter 
SATAN,  BAAL,  AZAZEL,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  Welcome,  my  worthy  friends !     What  news 

have  you 

From  his  most  stubborn  Majesty,  King  George? 
Or  from  his  Majesty's  subservient  tools, 
The  Cabinet,  the  Commons,  and  the  Lords  ? 
What  of  the  Stamp  act?     Will  it  be  repealed? 
Or  will  resistless  armies  subjugate 
Defiant  and  rebellious  colonists  ? 

Baal.  Pacific  measures  suit  the  monarch's  whim. 
He  now  proposes  to  repeal  the  Act, 
While  Pitt,  ennobled  and  made  Earl  of  Chatham, 
Becomes  Prime  Minister  and  rules  in  peace. 

Satan.  This  must  not  be.     'Twould  thwart  our  crafty 

plans, 

And  crown  the  king  with  loving  gratitude 
More  glorious  far  than  royal  diadem 
Or  glitt'ring  gems  in  an  imperial  crown. 
'Twould  span  the  ocean  with  a  bow  of  hope, 
Bright'ning  with  beauty  two  broad  continents, 
Pitt  must  not  dominate  the  Cabinet. 
His  august  presence  and  imperious  will 
Would  awe  the  king,  control  the  ministry, 
Restrain  the  Parliament,  and  paralyze 
All  the  mischievous  factions  of  the  realm. 
His  potent  voice  would  hush  the  raging  storms 
That  shake  the  firm  foundations  of  the  throne, 
Threat'ning  to  crush  both  law  and  liberty. 

Aznzel.  The  colonists  would  hail  him  as  their  friend, 
And  help  him  to  save  England  from  herself. 

Mammon.  He  at  the  helm  would  steer  the  ship  of  state 
To  peaceful  ports,  and  gather  boundless  wealth 
From  ev'ry  clime  beneath  the  shining  sun. 

Satan.  'Tis  this  I  would  prevent.    Please  tell  me  how. 

Belial.  His  tender  toes  shall  feel  a  cruel  twinge 
Of  agonizing  gout.     He  shall  not  sleep. 


PITT  STOOPS  TO  AN  EAliLDOM.  27 

I'll  shatter  all  his  nerves,  disturb  his  brain, 
And  lay  him  on  his  bed  in  helplessness. 
Then  his  subordinates,  to  please  the  king, 
May  tax  the  colonists  till  discontent 
Shall  ripen  to  rebellion  and  to  war. 
Meanwhile,  to  keep  Americans  enraged, 
The  venal  Parliament  shall  claim  the  right 
To  tax  them  as  it  wills  in  any  case, 
And  in  all  cases  whatsoever  rule. 
So  hatred  shall  burn  on  with  bright'ning  blaze. 

Satan.  I  thank  you,  Belial ;  your  plan  shall  be  mine. 
Let  us  depart.     To  Mammon  we  will  leave 
The  wordy  worthies  of  the  Parliament. 
He  knows  the  current  price  of  each  in  gold, 
In  empty  honors,  or  in  offices. 
King  George,  with  thirty  millions,  year  by  year, 
Still  trades  in  men,  in  high-born  Englishmen: 
All  slaves  to  Mammon,  under  his  cyntrol. 
There  enters  Townshend,  and  there  William  Pitt. 
After  to-night,  Pitt  in  the  House  of  Lords 
Stoops  to  an  earldom  and  a  servant's  place. 
Come,  trusty  comrades,  let  us  now  retire. 

Scene :   Windsor  Castle,  June  29, 1767.    SATAN,  BAAL,  AZAZEL,  MAM 
MON,  BELUS. 

Satan.  Companions  of  my  grandeur  and  rny  toils, 
Heirs  of  dominions  broad  and  limitless, 
Immortal  monarch s  of  immensity, 
All  empires,  kingdoms,  principalities 
Fade  into  insignificance  before 
Th'  expanding  grandeur  and  magnificence 
Of  our  unequalcd,  glorious  domains. 
Here  is  the  palace  of  an  earthly  king, 
Clothed  in  the  robes  of  human  royalty, 
Enthroned  and  sceptered,  ruling  over  men 
Of  four  great  continents  with  sovereign  sway. 
Among  the  sons  of  men  his  pow'r  is  great, 
But  compared  with  ours  less  than  a  glow-worm's 
To  the  noonday  sun's  refulgent  splendor. 


GEORGE  EVERY  INCH  A  KING.  29 

Bdus.  He  owns  more  land,  but  is  not  half  so  great 
As  my  old  Babylonian  worshipers, 
Nor  are  his  palaces  so  grand  as  theirs. 

Satan.  Baal,  you  need  not  boast  of  Syria's  kings, 
But  tell  me  how  your  crafty  plans  succeed. 

Baal.  When  Chatham  was  again  Prime  Minister, 
I  feared  the  very  worst  that  could  occur 
To  counteract  our  bold,  malignant  schemes. 
I  counterworked,  with  wonderful  success, 
His  efforts  to  secure  some  potent  friends 
And  allies  in  the  north.     Choiseul,  of  France, 
Outwitted  the  great  man,  which  made  him  sick. 
His  king  distrusted  him,  and  only  wished 
To  use  him  to  humilfate  the  lords. 
The  people  loved  the  simple  name  of  Pitt. 
When  the  great  commoner  became  an  earl, 
I  taught  them  to  be  very  much  displeased ; 
But  when  the  odious  Stamp  act  was  repealed, 
The  colonists  gave  honors  to  his  name. 
Charleston  set  up  his  statue,  and  the  king 
Shared  in  great  Chatham's  popularity. 
New  York  set  up  his  image,  made  of  lead, 
But  the  soft  metal  can  be  turned  to  shot, 
For  firing  at  his  Majesty's  dragoons. 
The  cabinet,  with  Chatham  to  direct, 
Would  have  conciliated  colonists, 
But  the  great  earl  went  groaning  to  his  couch, 
With  shattered  nerves  and  restless,  aching  head. 
George  then,  indeed,  was  ev'ry  inch  a  king; 
King  of  his  lords,  commons,  and  colonists; 
And  of  his  meek,  subservient  ministers. 
The  lion-hearted  earl  might  from  his  lair 
Growl,  or  roar  loudly  in  impotent  rage ; 
The  meaner  beasts  despised  his  helplessness. 
The  royal  kennel  holds  no  yelping  cur, 
No  snapping  mastiff  to  disturb  the  king: 
All  fawn  upon  their  master.     At  his  will 
They  go  or  come,  and  his  broad  collar  wear. 
The  unregretted  absence  of  their  chief 


30  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Leaves  domineering  Townshend  to  hold  sway. 
Camden  and  Shelburne,  Conway,  Kockingham, 
And  even  pious  Dartmouth  yield  to  him. 
Impulsive,  bold,  quick,  eloquent,  and  proud, 
I've  used  him  for  my  fiendish  purposes, 
So  as  to  tax  tea,  paper,  paints,  and  glass. 

Satan.  Aha!  aha!  King  George  shall  quickly  find 
Thorns  in  the  bed  of  roses  where  he  rests. 
Taxation  soon  shall  change  the  gleeful  tunes 
Now  sung  by  grateful  colonists  to  threats 
Of  fearful  vengeance  against  tyranny. 
The  smallest  tax  will  rouse  indignant  men 
To  stern  resistance  and  to  bloody  deeds. 
Speak,  Mammon,  let  us  hear  what  you  have  done. 

Mammon*  I  have  stirred  up  the  colonists  to  strife 
About  the  right  of  Parliament  to  bind 
Them  and  their  children  through  all  time  to  come. 
The  greedy  courtiers,  and  the  lords  of  trade, 
And  all  the  vulgar  herd  who  toil  for  wealth, 
I  have  so  worked  upon  that  to  their  eyes 
The  dazzling  brightness  of  a  golden  coin 
Outshines  the  noonday  radiance  of  the  sun. 
They'll  sell  their  souls  and  heav'nly  hopes  for  gol'i 

Satan.  Azazel,  what  report  have  you  to  make? 

Azazel.  I  have  inflated  with  such  pride  the  king 
That  to  himself  he's  higher  than  the  heavens 
And  mightiest  of  all  created  ones. 
His  wisdom's  infinite,  his  right  supreme, 
His  smile  can  gladden  earth  and  gild  the  sky. 
He's  prouder  far  than  all  the  Eastern  kings, 
Craving  your  pardon :  "  Proud  as  Lucifer." 
The  old  nobility  I've  so  puffed  up 
That  vain,  hereditary  honors  seem 
Superior  to  all  inherent  worth, 
All  excellences  that  belong  to  man. 
Their  smallest  ancient  privilege  o'crrides 
The  most  important  rights  of  other  men. 
For  them  and  theirs  they  judge  the  world  was  made. 


TROOPS  IN  BOSTON.  31 

Old  England'8  literati  I  have  moved 

To  dip  in  gall  the  keenest  of  their  pens. 

T'  asperse  the  colonists  with  bitter  words. 

From  old  Sam  Johnson  to  young  Hannah  More, 

They  all  agree  to  hate  Americans. 

When  some  explosive  spark  shall  kindle  war, 

All  classes  here  will  blaze  with  wrathful  flames. 

Satan.  Comrades,  our  schemes  work  well.     If  Chat 
ham  lives 

And  is  restored  to  health,  ho  will  not  stoop 
To  bandy  idle  words  with  such  colleagues, 
Nor  condescend  to  servo  a  king  whose  smile 
Approves  bold  Townshend's  base,  unfaithful  act, 
By  which  his  gifted  premier  was  betrayed. 
This  hateful  Tax  bill  soon  must  separate 
The  statesman  from  both  king  and  cabinet. 
When  the  insulted  great  man  shall  withdraw, 
Grenville  and  Townshend's  mercenary  plans 
Will  banish  peace  and  send  forth  horrid  war 
To  walk  the  earth  with  murder  in  his  train. 
King  George,  Queen  Charlotte,  and  their  royal  babes 
Come  this  way,  walking  toward  their  place  of  prayer. 
Let  us  depart,  and  cross  old  ocean's  waves. 

Scene:  Boston,  near  Faneuil  Hall,  October  1,  1768.    SATAN,  MARS, 
MAMMON,  BELIAL.    Martial  music,  soldiers  marching. 

Mars.  Hark!  hark!     That  music  falls  upon  my  car 
Like  martial  sounds  from  ancient  centuries. 
It  wakes  within  me  the  mysterious  joy 
With  which  1  led  old  Nimrod  from  the  chase 
Of  fierce,  wild  beasts  to  that  of  fiercer  men. 
I  hoar  the  measured  tread  of  the  well-drilled, 
Whose  glorious  trade  is  sanguinary  war. 
Yes,  here  they  march.     That  steady  tramp  recalls 
The  grand  achievements  of  the  mighty  men 
To  whom  I  gave  the  conquering  millions 
Of  earth's  early  times.     In  memory's  view 
Their  gorgeous  standards  float  above  the  heads 
Of  empire  builders  going  forth  to  war. 


32  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Satan,  what  enemies  has  Britain  hero 
Demanding  such  a  warlike  armament  ? 

Satan.  This  will  make  foes  of  peaceful  citizens: 
All  signs  are  ominous  of  bloody  war. 
Ours  is  the  task  to  hurry  on  the  fight. 
I  shall  exult  to  see  the  storm  come  down 
With  lightning  flashes  from  bright  bayonets, 
And  deep-toned  thunder  from  the  cannon's  mouth ; 
To  see  red  torrents  of  warm,  flowing  blood, 
And  hear  war's  music  in  the  groans  of  men. 
To  me,  'twas  worth  ten  thousand  years  in  hell 
To  witness  one  such  battle  as  Blenheim. 
War's  flashes  gild  with  transitory  beams 
The  ever  deep  ning  darkness  of  my  chains. 
Mammon,  what  news  have  you  about  the  tax, 
The  troops,  the  discontent,  the  threats  of  war  ? 

Mammon.  The  people  will  not  bear  taxation  now; 
They  will  not  use  an  article  that's  taxed. 
They  all  make  common  cause  against  the  right 
Of  Parliament  to  tax  Americans. 
They  use  as  emblems  of  their  unity, 
Sacred  and  true,  the  strength  of  banded  sticks. 
Soldiers  at  New  York,  in  a  time  of  peace, 
Asked  for  support  from  those  they  came  to  enslave. 
This  was  refused.     The  right  to  legislate 
Was  then  withdrawn  from  the  defiant  men. 
From  north  to  south  the  country  was  incensed. 
Indignant  people  talked  of  human  rights 
Existing  ere  a  human  law  was  made; 
Of  sacred  rights,  God-given;  and  above 
Thrones,  Legislatures,  and  judicial  courts 
Bold  Samuel  Adams  even  dared  to  speak 
Of  independence  as  the  people's  right. 
The  tools  of  tyranny  became  alarmed; 
They  asked  for  soldiers  to  protect  themselves 
Against  the  unarmed  friends  of  liberty. 

Belial.  Dalrymplo  came  with  two  full  regiments 
Next  month  two  more  will  come  to  join  them  here. 


TROOPS  DEMAND  QUARTERS.  33 

Each  soldier  that  wo  sco  has  sixteen  rounds 

Of  deadly  ammunition  to  discharge. 

In  bold  bravado  they  march  proudly  hero 

With  glitt'ring  bayonets,  as  if  to  probe 

The  heart  of  Boston  with  their  shining  steel. 

Dalrymple,  in  his  red  coat,  comes  this  way, 

Followed  by  Samuel  Adams,  freedom's  friend. 

Satan.  The  people  are  insulted  by  demands 
For  quarters  and  provisions  for  the  troops 
That  come  to  undermine  their  liberty. 
'Twill  not  be  long  till  folly  yields  its  fruit 
In  mad  rebellion  and  in  bloody  war. 
Let  us  depart  and  wait  expectantly. 

Scene:  Boston  Common,  by  moonllglit,  March  4, 1770.   Enter  SATAI^ 
BAAL,  MOLOCH,  MAJIMON,  BELIAL,  SEKAPIS,  MAES. 

Satan.  Princes,  potentates,  powers !  trusted,  true! 
I  seek  your  counsel  as  in  league  with  mo 
Against  the  hateful  millions  of  mankind. 
The  nations  still  are  tranquil.     Earth  pours  forth 
Her  plenteous  harvest  in  the  lap  of  peace, 
And  joyful  myriads  walk  in  flow'ry  paths. 
Ingloriously  wo  sit;  while  envy,  hate, 
And  malice  prey  upon  us.     Kings,  courtiers, 
Statesmen,  I  in  vain  have  tried;  and  wasted 
Upon  worthless  demagogues  wise  counsels. 
Now  let  your  wisdom  charm  my  list'ning  ear, 
And  teach  me  how  to  banish  peace  from  men. 
Speak,  Baal,  let  us  hear  what  you  propose. 

Baal.  I  still  tempt  men  to  war  against  the  Lord, 
And  bring  his  righteous  judgments  on  themselves. 
Their  suff'rings  then  fill  mo  with  great  delight. 

Satan.  Moloch,  my  friend,  say,  what  do  you  advise  ? 

Moloch.  With  horrid  superstitions  is  my  work, 
My  myriad  victims  perish  day  by  day 
Along  the  banks  of  Congo,  Niger,  Nile, 
The  Indus,  Ganges,  and  the  Iloang  IIo; 
3 


34  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

But  Europe  treats  my  counsels  with  disdain. 

No  emperor,  nor  sultan,  nor  the  king 

Of  France  or  Spain  or  Naples  listens  now 

With  satisfaction  to  the  cries  of  pain 

And  shrieks  of  anguish  wrung  from  tortured  men 

By  superstition  racked.     Even  the  pope 

Seems  to  be  wearied  with  the  human  groans 

That  tell  how  worse  than  useless  is  the  task 

That  cruelly  constrains  all  men  to  say 

That  they  will  think,  speak,  and  believe  alike. 

Mammon,  report ;  say,  what  do  you  advise  ? 

Mammon.  I  tempt  the  covetous :  king,  cabinet, 
Lords,  commons,  and  old  England's  populace 
Combine  to  madden  and  provoke  to  war 
The  colonists,  who  all  are  covetous. 
By  persevering  efforts  in  this  lino 
'Twill  not  be  long  until  they  fight  like  dogs. 

Satan.  You  once  were  active,  ancient  Serapis, 
Worshiped  by  millions  on  the  banks  of  Nile. 

Serapis.  Nor  am  I  idle  now,  my  worthy  chief. 
The  mighty  Mississippi  owned  my  sway, 
When  a  vile  Spanish  tyrant,  moved  by  me, 
Slaughtered  in  cold  blood  the  republicans 
Who  tried  self-government  at  New  Orleans. 
I'll  watch  the  lowlands.     Spaniaixls  led  by  me 
Became  oppressors  of  the  Netherlands. 

Satan.  Mars,  what  have  you  to  say  ?     What  have  you 
done? 

Mars.  I've  seen  Lord  Chatham,  full  of  lofty  pride, 
Hesign  his  place  in  the  king's  cabinet; 
Witnessed  the  death  of  Townshend ;  seen  Lord  North 
Become  Prime  Minister  to  please  the  king. 
In  England  stupid  weaklings  now  bear  rule, 
While  in  the  colonies  the  wisest  guide. 
I  saw  Virginia's  House  of  Burgesses, 
With  dignity  and  unanimity, 
By  formal  resolutions  take  the  lead, 


BOSTON'S  SNOWY  ROBES  BLOODY.  35 

Declaring  that  they  never  would  bo  taxed 

But  by  their  own  expressed  authority. 

Nor  should  their  fellow-citizens  be  tried 

But  by  a  jury  of  the  vicinage, 

Nor  should  a  tyrant's  troops  be  quartered  there. 

The  other  colonies  fall  into  line, 

Hoping  to  crown  union  with  liberty. 

I  have  done  nothing  but  await  events. 

Satan.  I  have  grown  weary  waiting  for  events. 
The  king  sends  ammunition,  soldiers,  ships; 
Talks  threat'ningly,  but  hangs  no  traitor  chief. 
The  colonists  resolve,  defy,  make  threats; 
Talk  bravely,  but  carefully  do  nothing. 
Belial,  'tis  yours  to  strike  the  spark  that  soon 
Shall  kindle  blazing  flames  of  horrid  war. 
These  troops  are  not  all  quiet,  peaceful  saints, 
Nor  all  these  people  meek  as  Moses  was. 
In  spite  of  learning,  pride,  and  piety, 
Boston  still  breeds  among  her  citizens 
Certain  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort, 
True  sons  of  Belial,  ready  to  your  hand. 
Can  you  not  artfully  stir  up  your  sons 
To  silly  actions  and  provoking  words, 
By  which  t'  enrage  the  rash,  impatient  troops 
Till  British  lead  stains  Boston's  streets  with  blood 
Drawn  from  the  veins  of  yankee  patriots? 
Then  will  King  George  be  called  a  murderer; 
And  those  who  fall,  martyrs  of  liberty. 
What  say  you,  Belial?     Can  the  work  be  done? 

Belial.  Yes,  mighty  chief,  it  can.     To-morrow  night 
Shall  see  bright  moonbeams  playing  on  earth's  robes 
Of  snow-white  purity,  stained  red  with  streams 
Of  flowing  human  gore.     Will  that  suffice? 

Satan.  Yes,  Belial,  let  the  work  of  death  begin. 
'Twill  fill  all  hearts  with  hatred  and  revenge, 
Providing  for  long  years  of  bloody  war. 
My  trusty  friends,  let  us  be  here  to -see, 
And  duly  honor  Belial  for  success. 


36  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene:  Boston  sidewalk  near  tlie  court-house,  March  5,  1770.  Five 
bleeding  bodies  are  in  sight.  Crien  of  agony  are  heard  from  un 
seen  wounded  men.  being  carried  away.  RAPHAEL,  ZEPHON,  Zo- 
PHIEL,  ARIEL. 

Ariel.  Why  all  this  flowing  blood  ?     The  virgin  snow 
Is  red  with  crimson  blushes.     On  the  air 
Comes  agonizing  cries,  startling  and  sad, 
Filling  the  night  with  hoi'ror,  promising 
A  gloomy  morning  full  of  sighs  and  tears. 
Who  killed  these  men?     And  why?     Say,  Raphael 
What  dreadful  crime  caused  this  grave  tragedy  ? 

Raphael.  The  guilt  of  these  rash  murders,  Ariel, 
Rests  first  on  Satan,  author  of  all  sin. 
lie  stirs  the  hatreds  that  provoke  fierce  wars : 
His  restless  malice  has  been  working  here. 
Next,  on  tho  king  and  his  Prime  Minister. 
'Tis  shared  in  part  by  selfish  governors, 
Whose  cowardice  led  them  to  ask  for  troops ; 
In  part  by  Capt.  Preston  and  his  men ; 
In  part,  by  sons  of  Belial  on  the  street. 
The  thoughtful  people  feared  such  scenes  as  this, 
And  longed  to  see  the  regiments  removed. 
To-night  the  rabble,  with  insulting  words, 
Pressed  on  a  sentinel ;  he  called  for  help. 
His  comrades  were  defied,  insulted,  struck. 
Sticks,  stones,  snow,  rubbish  flying  thick  and  fast, 
Provoked  the  soldiery  to  desp'rate  deeds. 
One  fell,  another  had  his  gun  knocked  up; 
They  heard  themselves  called  lobsters,  cowards,  knaves, 
Rogues,  villains,  dastards,  slaves  who  did  not 
To  use  their  weapons  in  their  own  defense. 
Then  came  the  fatal  order.     At  the  flash, 
Guilty  and  innocent  together  fell. 
The  dead  and  dying  and  the  soldiery 
Who  fired  the  fatal  shots  that  laid  them  low 
Were  quite  too  ignorant  to  understand 
Or  know  the  cause  of  their  most  cruel  strife. 
Untaught  in  ethics,  law,  or  statesmanship, 
These  slaves  of  blind  resentment  shoot,  or  fall; 
Yet  this  dark  deed  may  sever  all  the  tics 


ROYAL  PIETY.  37 

That  bind  these  States  to  England  and  her  king, 

May  make  of  the  best  people  in  the  world 

Most  bitter  enemies,  though  now  they're  friends. 

But  there  are  Warren,  Otis,  and  a  crowd 

Of  most  indignant,  irate  citizens. 

They  understand  the  questions  in  dispute. 

They  say  a  freeman  taxed  without  consent 

Is  but  a  milder  name  for  robbery. 

They  will  pay  taxes  levied  by  themselves 

Or  their  own  chosen  representatives. 

No  act  of  Parliament  shall  confiscate 

The  property  that  they  have  earned  and  saved. 

It  was  no  act  of  Parliament  that  sent 

Their  brave  forefathers  to  this  distant  land. 

The  settlers  came  as  freemen.     Protected 

By  the  common  law  of  England  and  all 

The  muniments  of  British  liberty, 

They  claimed  their  birthright  as  inherited. 

True  to  old  England,  loyal  to  their  king, 

They  took  up  arms  and  freely  shed  their  blood 

For  Britain's  glory  and  her  king's  domains; 

With  their  own  money  fed  and  clothed  themselves, 

So  long  as  Britons  found  a  foe  to  fight. 

Their  sons  will  freely  fight  for  Britain  still, 

But  not  be  driv'n  as  mercenary  slaves. 

They  say  to  quarter  soldiers  in  this  town 

In  time  of  peace  is  cruel  tyranny, 

An  insult  and  an  outrage  and  a  farce, 

Ending  to-night  in  bloody  tragedy. 

Zophiel.  How  unexpected  this  has  been  to  me! 
'Tis  but  a  few  short  years  since  with  delight 
I  gazed  admiringly  on  Britain's  king 
And  on  his  dutiful  and  pious  queen. 
The  old  abuses  and  disgraceful  sins, 
Brought  o'er  the  sea  from  Hanover,  had  ceased; 
No  more  was  heard  the  drunken  revelry, 
The  oaths  profane,  the  vulgar,  ribald  jests, 
Nor  seen  th'  outrageous,  brazen  harlotry 
That  long  disgraced  the  royal  palaces. 
The  king  and  queen  bowed'  to  the  King  of  kings, 

443349 


38  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Most  humbly  and  devoutly  worshiping; 
While  multitudes,  by  their  example  led, 
Paid  meek  devotion  to  the  Lord  most  high. 
The  royal  children,  early  taught  to  pray, 
Won  ev'ry  heart  that  saw  their  loveliness. 
All  holy  angels  loved  to  linger  near, 
And  wait  upon  the  blissful  heirs  of  life. 
From  the  home  circle  of  chaste  royalty 
Virtue  and  decency  walked  forth  to  bless 
Millions  with  holy,  conjugal  delights, 
In  the  pure  homes  of  people  of  all  ranks. 

Zeplion.  I  saw  the  fine  arts  yield  to  royalty 
Their  grateful  homage  and  obedience, 
And  imitate  the  chaste  und  decent  court. 
Handel  and  Haydn  sent  sublimest  strains 
Of  heav'nly  music  ringing  round  the  world. 
Obscenity  and  folly  fled  away 
From  halls  of  music,  pure  and  undefiled. 
Beynolds  and  West  to  glowing  canvas  gave, 
In  fairest  features  and  most  perfect  forms, 
The  grandest  charms  of  manhood's  majesty, 
And  beauty's  blooming  loveliness  unveiled, 
Yet  brought  no  burning  blush  to  virtue's  check. 
From  heathen  haunts  and  pagan  practices, 
The  muse  of  poetry  turned  quite  away, 
With  chaste  and  lofty  thoughts  and  ringing  words 
T'  inspire  Johnson  and  Goldsmith,  Bcattie, 
Gray,  and  Cowper.     To  good  Charles  Wesley  gave 
Songs  fit  for  seraphs  near  th'  eternal  throne, 
That  charm  the  car,  that  thrill  and  melt  the  heart, 
Inspire  devotion,  till  the  classic  muse 
Goes  singing  like  a  modest  Methodist, 
To  win  for  Christ  the  millions  of  mankind. 
Great  Chatham  was  the  king's  Prime  Minister, 
Who  drove  domestic  discord  from  the  land, 
And  gave  his  monarch  thrones  in  loyal  hearts. 
Prosperity  and  loyalty  and  love, 
With  gleeful  gladness,  hand  in  hand  rejoiced. 
All  foreign  foes  were  vanquished  and  in  peace. 
The  savage  Indians  of  the  western  wilds 


TAXATION  AND  BLOOD.  39 

Most  gladly  owned  King  George's  sovereignty. 
"  They  buried  tomahawks  and  scalping-knives, 
And  planted  over  them  the  tree  of  peace." 
Th'  uncounted  millions  of  old  Asia's  sons 
Began  to  seek  protection  'neath  his  flag. 
Far  distant  lands  and  isles  of  cv'ry  sea 
Waited  for  England's  colonies  and  laws; 
But  now  disorder  reigns.     Red-handed  war, 
With  gory  banners,  frights  the  trembling  land. 
Please  tell  me,  Raphael,  why  this  mournful  change? 

Raphael.  Zephon,  this  melancholy  change  has  sprung 
From  stubborn  pride  and  greedy  selfishness. 
When  Pitt  had  laid  the  world  at  Britain's  feet, 
The  cost  of  such  great  triumphs  must  be  paid. 
The  question  was,  by  whom?     Wise  statesmanship 
Could  see  broad  streams  of  richest  revenues 
Deep'ning  their  channels  toward  the  treasury; 
But  Pitt  no  longer  ruled  the  prosp'rous  land. 
Unlawful  taxes  laid  on  colonists, 
Instead  of  lawful  taxes  on  themselves, 
Was  what  the  king  and  cabinet  proposed. 
This  roused  the  colonists.     From  bad  to  worse 
The  government  has  gone.     To-night  we  see 
Most  bloody  fruits  of  selfish  arrogance. 
The  full,  red  harvest  ripens  rapidly, 
And  fearful  retribution  marches  on 
To  punish  Britain's  pride  and  selfishness. 

Scene:  Front  of  John  Street  Church,  New  York,  with  Trinity  Church 
in  view  by  moonlight,  October  5,  1770.  RAPHAEL,  ARIEL,  UZZIEL, 
ZEPIION. 

Raphael.  The  snowy  robes  of  Boston   stained   with 

blood 

Of  slaughtered  citizens  in  peaceful  times 
Drew  forth  our  sympathies  when  last  we  met. 
Since  then,  where  have  you  ministered?  what  seen? 

Ariel.  The  dwellings  of  the  saints  have  been  my  care. 
I  have  seen  many  Eastern  colonists, 
Have  watched  their  struggles,  helped  them  in  distress, 


40  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  poured  celestial  comforts  into  hearts 

That  throbbing  sunk  in  hopeless  agony. 

My  latest  most  delightful  work  has  been 

By  Whitefield's  death-bed,  and  with  his  freed  soul, 

His  escort  to  the  paradise  of  God. 

With  work  well  done  he  rested  from  his  toils, 

And  like  a  weary  child  he  fell  asleep, 

Not  taking  time  to  talk  of  works  or  faith. 

Friends  watched  his  latest  hours,  and  gently  laid 

His  mortal  body  near  the  sacred  desk 

From  which  he  loved  to  tell  of  saving  grace. 

Two  continents  seem  orphaned  by  his  death ; 

Their  wailing  lamentations  now  are  heard. 

Please  tell  me  of  your  labors  and  your  cares. 

Raphael.  The  Southern  sea-coasts  I  have  visited, 
From  far  Savannah  to  the  Chesapeake 
Thousands  whose  burning  brows  have  felt  my  touch 
Drive  off  the  fever  fiend,  and  heal  the  wounds 
His  fiery  feet  had  made,  rejoice  to-day; 
And  thousands  more,  cast  down  by  many  cares, 
Now  lift  their  heads  in  Christian  cheerfulness. 
Zephon,  report  what  you  have  seen  and  done. 

Zephon.  Along  the  deep,  broad  rivers  of  the  West, 
I've  sought  the  hunters  of  the  wilderness 
And  carried  comfort  to  their  rude,  rough  homes; 
JBut  I  beheld  in  Western  Maryland 
A  sight  so  grand  'tis  worth  reporting  here. 
'Twas  in  a  frontier  cabin.     Death  approached 
And  called  its  brave  defender  to  depart. 
The  husband,  father,  neighbor  said  farewell 
To  weeping  loved  ones  whom  he  soon  must  leave; 
Then,  with  a  shout  of  triumph  over  death, 
Set  his  firm  foot  upon  the  tyrant's  neck, 
And  with  ecstatic  rapture  passed  away 
To  endless  life,  forever  with  the  Lord. 
Three  days  of  solemn,  joyful  mourning  passed, 
And  holy  men  took  up  their  comrade's  corpse. 
No  bell  was  counting  out  his  years  below; 
But  through  the  grand  old  woods  rung  out  such  sounds 


A  CHRISTIAN'S  BURIAL.  41 

As  none  "but  Christ's  most  holy  ones  could  raise. 
Such  thrilling  tones,  pathetic  and  sublime, 
So  full  of  gracious  fervor,  could  not  spring 
From  voices  that  had  not  been  tuned  by  grace. 
Slowly,  with  measured,  reverential  steps, 
The  train  moved  onward  to  the  Christian's  grave, 
Still  bravely  singing  in  heroic  lays 
The  song  triumphant  of  victorious  faith: 
"Rejoice  for  a  brother  deceased; 

Our  loss  is  his  infinite  gain; 
A  soul  out  of  prison  released, 

And  freed  from  his  bodily  chain: 
With  songs  let  us  follow  his  flight, 
And  mount  with  his  spirit  above, 
Escaped  to  the  mansions  of  light, 
And  lodged  in  the  Eden  of  love." 

Arid.  Please  tell  us  more  about  those  singing  saints 
Who  thus  defy  the  keenest  darts  of  death, 
And  raise  glad  shouts  of  vict'ry  o'er  the  grave. 

ITzziel.  Ten  years  ago,  there  came  to  Maryland 
An  Irishman,  of  lowly,  humble  birth. 
But  being  "  born  again" — born  from  above — 
Though  poor  in  purse,  was  very  rich  in  faith. 
This  child  of  God — heir  of  immensity — 
Has  called  mankind  to  share  his  heritage. 
Heeding  his  invitation  with  delight, 
His  humble  neighbors  sought  like  precious  faith, 
Are  children  of  their  God  in  very  deed, 
Crowned  with  divinest  honor,  wealth,  and  power. 
Death  owns  his  conquerors  in  such  as  these. 
When  Robert  Strawbridge,  called  of  God  to  preach, 
Asked  for  a  license  under  Wesley's  hand, 
'Tvvas  not  believed  that  such  a  man  could  lay 
The  broad  foundations  of  the  greatest  Church 
Known  to  this  Western  world  for  centuries 
To  come.     But  so  it  was.     In  the  same  year, 
Two  other  families  of  the  same  faith 
Came  from  the  same  green  isle  and  landed  here. 
Six  years  of  modest  diffidence  passed  by, 


42  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

While  secret  prayers  ascended  from  their  hearts. 
Then  others  came  to  join  the  holy  band. 
Brave  Barbara  Heck  moved  Philip  Embury 
To  preach  the  gospel  to  these  emigrants. 
At  first  a  few,  then  crowds  came  out  to  hear. 
Soon  Captain  Webb  came  down  from  Albany, 
True  soldier  of  the  cross,  with  sword  in  hand, 
In  his  red  regimentals  gayly  clad, 


ROBERT  STRAWBRIDGE. 

Entered  the  pulpit,  laid  at  Jesus'  feet 

The  glittering  steel,  and  with  a  giant's  strength 

Wielded  the  Holy  Spirit's  two-edged  sword. 

This  lowly,  humble  temple  is  the  place 

Where  these  religious  people  meet  to-night. 

And  yet  another,  worthy  of  all  praise, 

Has  come  to  join  them  in  their  loving  work. 


ANGELS  AND  SAINTS. 

He  goes  to  wave  the  blazing  toix'h  of  truth 
Where  it  first  flashed  upon  this  continent, 
Held  in  the  hands  of  Hunt  and  Whitaker, 
Assisted  by  the  greatest  of  John  Smiths. 
"Tis  Eobert  Williams.     He's  Virginia's  own. 
See  at  his  side  young  Francis  Asbury, 
Destined  to  lead  the  hosts  of  Methodism; 


CAPTAIN   WEBB. 


And  there  is  Embury,  here  Barbara  Heck, 

The  noblest  of  them  all.     There  Captain  Webb, 

Who  lost  an  eye  while  fighting  gallantly 

When  Wolfe  fell,  crowned  with  vict'ry,  at  Quebec. 

Let  us  go  in  and  worship  with  them  here. 


BOOK  THIRD. 


Scene :  Hdglils  of  Richmond,  April  3,  1773.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL, 
ITHUKIEL. 

Gabriel.  Hail,  prince  of  our  angelic  brotherhood, 
Guardian  of  empires  and  great  statesmen's  guide, 
This  day  Virginia's  burgesses  have  crowned, 
With  unexampled  glory  and  renown, 
This  noblest  of  all  noble  commonwealths ; 
With  reverential  love  and  lofty  pride 
They  led  their  young  majestic  mother  forth, 
Blooming  and  fair,  in  beauteous  gracefulness, 
To  hold  her  bright,  impenetrable  shield 
Between  her  trembling  sisters  and  their  foe. 
This  must  be  "  freedom's  home  or  glory's  grave." 
"No  room  is  found  for  craven  dastards  here. 

Michael.  Gabriel,  your  admiration  is  deserved ; 
I  share  it  with  you.     But  a  selfish  world 
Oft  takes  advantage  of  the  generous. 
The  time  may  come  when  those  she  now  defends 
Will,  quite  forgetful  of  all  gratitude, 
Trample  flpon  the  compact  made  by  States, 
And  gather  millions  from  the  teeming  North 
To  subjugate  this  little,  lovely  town, 
Or  sweep  creation  for  a  hireling  host, 
To  lay  Virginia's  beauty  in  the  dust. 

lihurid.  In  such  a  case  her  stalwart  sons  would  fight 
As  men  in  armies  never  fought  before. 
Her  fairest  fields  they'd  fertilize  with  blood, 
And  send  swift  retribution  on  her  foes. 
But  I  forbear  to  scan  futurity. 
Foreknowledge  docs  not  now  belong  to  us: 
'Tis  with  the  present  that  we  have  to  do. 
(44) 


CHATHAM   WAS  "jUJfJUS."  45 

This  latest  action  taken  here  to-day 

AVill  unify  and  organize  defense. 

The  colonists  in  constant  intercourse 

Will  act  in  concert  to  resist  all  wrongs, 

Or,  possibly,  for  independence  strike. 

The  busy  printing-press  gives  active  aid 

To  those  defending  civil  liberty. 

The  "Farmer's  Letters"  by  John  Dickinson, 

Pour  floods  of  light  upon  the  public  mind, 

And  teach  great  truths  in  a  most  winning  way. 

Abdiel.  The  pen  of  Junius,  "keen  and  dipped  in  gall," 
Punctures  abuses  most  relentlessly. 
But  why  does  he  conceal  his  skillful  hand  ? 
Who  is  he  ?     What  is  his  own  proper  name  ? 

Gabriel.  Abdiel,  opinions  differ  as  to  that. 
I  only  give  you  mine  for  what  it's  worth. 
One  man  alone  can  use  such  forceful  words: 
But  one  in  reputation's  rich  enough 
To  be  so  prodigal  of  fame  as  not 
To  claim  the  honor  of  such  authorship. 
But  one  knew  all  the  secrets  he  reveals, 
While  mercilessly  lashing  ministers 
And  even  his  most  gracious  Majesty. 
One  man,  and  only  one,  could  feel — could  make 
His  burning  words  express — such  lofty  pride, 
Such  grand,  imperious,  disdainful  scorn 
Of  high-born  littleness  in  seats  of  power. 
That  man  is  Chatham.     "  Junius"  did  not  write 
Till  after  Chatham  left  the  cabinet. 
The  sick  man's  comforts,  his  domestic  joys, 
His  social  rank  were  chains  of  gratitude 
He  could  not  break,  though  duty  sternly  called 
For  patriot  toils  to  save  a  sinking  State. 
Even  the  great  man's  title  then  proclaimed 
His  deep  indebtedness  to  George  the  Third. 
The  unknown  "  Junius  "  gave  the  unfettered  strength 
Of  Pitt's  unequaled  genius  to  mankind 
To  save  them  from  the  follies  of  the  times. 
The  more  completely  to  conceal  his  hand 


46 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIV. 


He  praised  himself.     So,  of  necessity, 

"  Junius"  must  rest  in  Chatham's  honored  grave. 

Michael.  Among  these  gifted  backwoods  burgesses 
Are  men  whose  honored  names  shall  soon  outshine 
Illustrious  Chatham's  on  the  list  of  fame; 


WILLIAM  PITT,  EARL  OP  CHATHAM. 

And  one,  the  peerless  name  of  Washington, 
Shall  stand  confessed  the  highest  of  mankind. 
Behold!     The  noblest  of  the  human  race! 

Scene:  Boston,  in  front  of  the  old  South  Church,  at  night,  December 
15, 1773.    SATAN,  BELIAL,  AZAZEL. 

Satan  to  Belial.  My  trusty  friend,  I  need  your  services. 
This  question  of  taxation,  simplified, 
Turns  now  on  tea  alone.     The  Parliament 


BOSTON  TEA  PARTY.  47 

And  king  bid  the  obedient  merchants  send 

Cheap  tea  to  tempt  weak  colonists  to  buy. 

Charleston,  New  York,  and  Philadelphia 

Have  kept  the  tempting  leaves  from  cheerful  homes; 

But  Hutchinson,  to  enrich  his  selfish  sons, 

Would  gladly  give  Bostonians  all  they  want. 

Mammon  delights  to  help  the  covetous. 

He  would  not  have  a  single  leaf  destroyed. 

To  you  I  therefore  come.     What  can  you  do  ? 

Belial.  To-morrow  night  the  citizens  meet  here 
To  talk  of  grievances  and  remedies. 
I  will  bring  fifty  of  my  chosen  sons, 
Arrayed  as  Indians,  to  destroy  the  tea. 
The  crowd  shall  follow  us  to  Griffin's  Wharf; 
We'll  seize  the  tea  and  throw  it  in  the  dock. 
This  great  "tea  party"  long  shall  be  renowned. 
The  king,  intoxicated  with  its  fumes, 
Shall  loose  his  dogs  of  war  against  this  town, 
And  wreak  his  vengeance  on  its  citizens. 

Azazel.  Will  that  bring  on  the  war  so  much  desired, 
Or  Boston  be  the  only  sufferer? 

Satan.  We  can  but  try  it.     Here  to-morrow  night 
We  come  to  witness  Belial's  great  success. 

Scene:  Boston,  in  front  of  the  old  South  Church, at  night,  December 
16,  1773.    SATAN  and  AZAZEL  approach. 

Satan.  Ho !  Belial,  where  are  now  your  fifty  men  ? 

Belial.  Satan,  they  restless  sit  amid  the  crowd, 
Waiting  our  signal  to  begin  their  work. 

Satan.  Belial,  give  them  the  expected  signal  now. 

Belial.  Satan,  that's  all  arranged  and  understood : 
There's  one  within  who  will  attend  to  that. 
Come  with  me  now  to  Griffin's  Wharf  before 
The  crowd  comes  rushing  and  the  fray  begins. 

Scene:  Griffin's  WJiarf. 

Belial  to  Satan  and  Azazel.  Step  with  me  on  this 

elevated  spot, 
Whence  we  can  sec  destructive  work  go  on. 


48  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  war-whoop  sounds  and  hundreds  rush  this  way. 
The  work  begins;  the  tea  is  seized;  the  chests 
Are  emptied  in  the  foaming  waves  and  sink. 
Now,  Satan,  can  you  praise  my  handiwork  ? 

Satan.  Belial,  I  can.     But  we  must  cross  the  sea. 
Our  work  is  incomplete  until  the  king 
Grows  furious  and  begins  to  strike  his  foes. 

Scene :  Front  of  the  palace,  January  11,  1?74.     SATAN,  AZAZEL 
BELIAL,  MAMMON. 

Satan.  The  privy  council  met  the  king  to-day 
To  talk  of  letters  that  have  passed  between 
Hillsboro  and  the  royal  governor. 
Petitions  from  the  colonists  have  como 
Demanding  the  removal  of  their  foes — 
For  such  they  count  their  governor,  their  judge; 
And  by  those  letters  prove  that  enmity 
lieigns  in  the  hearts  of  those  high  officers. 
The  king  and  his  advisers  do  not  deign 
To  notice  such  petitions  for  relief. 
The  ministers  were  troubled,  and  would  learn 
Who  'twas  that  told  state  secrets  out  of  school. 
Each  charged  another  with  the  grave  offense, 
And  duels  might  have  shed  their  noble  blood 
If  nobler  Franklin  had  not  helped  his  foes 
By  telling  them  'twas  he  that  sent  the  news. 
The  cabinet  became  enraged  at  him 
And  said  he  must  appear  before  King  George. 
Belial,  your  matchless  talents  I  require. 
These  high-born  dignitaries  of  the  realm. 
Furnish  lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort, 
Lower  in  vulgar  vices  than  the  scum 
Fermenting  in  the  slums  of  wretchedness. 
One,  Wedderburne,  belongs  to  this  vile  class. 
On  this  he-harpy  try  your  utmost  skill. 
Let  fangs  and  talons  rend  old  Franklin's  heart; 
Bid  weaker  vultures  share  the  hateful  feast 
Until  King  George  shall  sicken  at  the  sight. 
Meanwhile,  Azazel,  go  stir  up  the  king 
Until  his  rage  exceeds  all  decent  bounds; 
Then  meet  me  here  again  in  eighteen  days. 


FRANKLIN  TRIUMPHS.  49 

Scene :  Front  of  the  palace,  by  moonlight,  January  29, 1774,    SATAN, 
BELIAL,  AZAZEL. 

Belial.  My  honored  chief,  your  deep-laid  plot  works 

well. 

Franklin  was  present  by  the  king's  command; 
Base  Wedderburne  in  rudest  wrathfulness 
Hurled  at  him  accusations,  insults,  threats, 
And  every  wordy  weapon  he  could  find 
In  the  whole  armory  of  human  speech. 
Dignified  and  brave,  unmoved  by  malice, 
Unsubdued  by  fear,  unawed  by  all  the 
Frowns  of  royalty  or  threats  of  power, 
The  hero  told  them  most  unwelcome  truths. 
The  laughing  lordlings  and  ungracious  king 
Were  dwarfed  before  this  wise  man  of  the  West. 

Satan.  Azazel,  what  have  you  to  tell  to-night  ? 
Was  royalty  submissive  to  your  will  ? 

Azazel.  More  than  submissive  to  all  fiendish  schemes 
For  crushing  the  rebellious  colonists. 
Alas !  poor  king,  he  is  insanely  mad 
Against  all  persons  who  resist  his  will. 

Satan.  This  but  promotes  our  hellish  purposes, 
And  promises  a  long,  long,  cruel  strife. 
To-night  peace  spreads  her  snow-white  wings  for  flight, 
While  howling  hatred  calls  for  bloody  war. 

Belial.  Say,  Satan,  is  my  latest  work  approved  ? 

Satan.  It  is.     I  give  you  my  most  hearty  thanks. 
But  there  remains  another  work  for  you : 
Gage  is  in  London.     He  must  see  the  king 
And  fill  him  with  vain  hopes  of  victory. 
To  you  I  trust  him :  work  him  to  your  will 
By  hast'ning  on  the  conflicts  that  must  come. 
These  men  deceive  each  other  and  themselves ; 
We  understand  them  and  are  not  deceived. 
How  despicable  is  all  human  pride ! 
How  inconsistent  man's  most  lauded  acts  I 
4 


50  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Not  twenty  months  ago  these  islanders 
Boasted  most  loudly  of  the  liberty 
Conferred  by  Mansfield  on  one  negro  slave 
A  Massachusetts  man  had  landed  here. 
Cheap  charity,  without  expense,  could  free 
Another's  slave  and  glory  in  the  deed, 
Singing  loud  songs  about  philanthropy, 
Boasting  of  freedom  and  of  English  air 
Inhaled  by  slaves  to  give  them  liberty. 
We  laugh  to  scorn  such  bold,  pretentious  boasts, 
While  Parliament  and  king  for  paltry  gold 
Encourage  merchants  still  to  trade  in  slaves. 
Yes,  judges,  legislators,  and  the  king 
Turn  a  deaf  ear  to  accents  of  distress 
In  which  Yirginia  begs  to  be  relieved 
From  the  accursed  slave  trade  and  its  woes. 
The  horrid  traffic,  with  its  burning  shame, 
Still  brings  bright  blushes  to  her  glowing  cheeks, 
As  such  vile  merchandise  pollutes  her  shores. 
Mansfield  approaches.     North  is  by  his  side. 

Scene :  House  of  Lords  after  adjournment,  March  18, 1774.    SATAN, 
BAAL,  MAES,  AZAZEL,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  My  great  compeers,  we've  triumphed  here  to-day. 
The  Boston  Port  bill  passed  and  is  approved. 
An  empire  wreaks  its  vengeance  on  a  town ; 
Blockades  its  ports,  removes  its  government, 
Fills  it  with  soldiers,  starves  its  citizens: 
(Those  of  them  that  it  does  not  choose  to  hang) 
To  this  king,  lords,  and  commons  have  agreed. 

Baal.  Satan,  this  must  be  quite  an  easy  task 
Imposed  upon  themselves:  an  hour's  pastime. 
How  many  people  are  there  in  the  town  ? 

Satan.  When  full,  not  more  than  sixteen  thousand 

souk; 

But  now,  with  numbers  frightened  and  away, 
Soldiers  outnumber  quiet  citizens. 

Belial.  Then  why  not  go^to  hanging  instantly, 
And  end  tho  troubles  of  the  trembling  town? 


MOURNING  AMEKICA.  51 

Azazel.  That  is  a  game  attended  by  great  risks. 
More  than  two  millions  threaten  to  take  part 
In  such  proceedings,  if  they  once  begin. 

Satan.  Ha!  Comrade  Mars,  great  gallant  god  of  war! 
I  see  the  smile  that  lights  your  countenance. 
Make  ready  for  the  strife:  there's  work  for  you. 
To  Massachusetts  let  us  wend  our  way. 

Scene:  Market  Sired  Wharf,  Philadelphia,  June  1,  1774.  Flags  on 
shipping  at  half-mast;  crape  on  closed  houses;  muffled  bells  lolling. 
ABDIEL,  ITHUKIEL,  ZEPHON,  UZZIEL,  RAPHAEL. 

Zephon.  What  mean  these  signs  of  mourning,  those  sad 

sounds 

That  echo  like  the  dirge  of  some  lost  soul? 
Has  death  struck  down  the  monarch  on  his  throne? 
Do  continents  lament  their  loss  to-day? 

Abdiel.  Death  in  a  palace  brings  no  gloom  like  this; 
'Tis  liberty  has  died,  and  millions  mourn. 
These  half-mast  flags,  these  melancholy  bells, 
Those  crape-clad  dwellings,  and  those  solemn  throngs, 
Proclaim  the  indignation  and  distress 
That  patient  Pennsylvania  feels  to-day 
Because  the  Boston  Port  bill  is  enforced. 

Ithuriel.  Virginia  fasts,  and  lifts  her  solemn  prayers 
For  help  from  God  against  the  enemies 
Of  human  freedom  and  the  rights  of  man. 
She  summons  a  convention  of  her  sons 
To  choose  a  delegation  that  shall  meet 
A  Continental  Congress  in  this  place. 
She  calls  back  liberty  to  life  again, 
Ready  to  arm  bravo  sons  in  her  defense, 
Making  one  nation  of  these  colonies. 

Abdiel.  Comrades,  Virginia  lives  in  quietness. 
So  do  the  other  Southern  colonies; 
Their  ports  are  not  blockaded,  nor  their  towns 
Beleaguered  by  a  hostile  soldiery. 
With  lords  of  trade  they  have  no  rivalries, 
No  ships  of  theirs  the  rich  slave  trade  divide 
With  merchants  of  old  England.     Salem,  Boston, 


52  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  New  York  provoke  the  jealousy  of 
Liverpool  and  Bristol  for  its  profits. 
Savannah,  Charleston,  Norfolk,  Baltimore 
Send  out  no  ships  for  captured  Africans. 
Those  Southerners  are  favorites  of  the  king. 
He  does  not  ask  the  heads  of  their  great  men, 
Nor  would  ho  have  them  sent  across  the  sea. 
Why,  then,  does  Boston  rouse  their  sympathies 
So  that  they  risk  their  all  in  her  defense  ? 

Uzziel.  Thus  all  the  colonies  make  common  cause 
Against  the  right  of  king  and  Parliament 
To  tax  them  all  without  their  own  consent; 
To  rule  them  in  all  cases;  quarter  troops 
On  them  in  time  of  peace;  to  transport  men 
Across  the  sea  for  trial.     If  Boston 
Suffers  now  without  redress,  why  may  not 
Charleston,  Norfolk,  Baltimore,  whenever 
AVhims  of  tyrants  may  demand?     Their  innate, 
Home-bred  love  of  liberty,  law,  justice, 
Impels  them  to  contend  for  human  rights. 

Raphael.  That  doubtless  is  the  truth;  but  gratitude, 
Stronger  than  bands  of  steel,  must  ever  bind 
New  England  to  the  people  of  the  South. 
Their  interests  she  will  guard  as  if  her  own; 
Wrongs  done  to  them  she'll  hasten  to  redress; 
Insults  to  them  must  bo  insults  to  her, 
Her  loving-kindness  their  rich  heritage. 

Abdiel.  After  the  coming  Congress  shall  convene, 
Lot  us  meet  here  again  at  duty's  call. 
But  see,  there  comes  this  way  John  Dickinson : 
The  "Farmer's  Letters"  flowed  from  his  keen  pen. 

Scene :  In  front  of  Carpenter's  Hall,  Philadelphia,  October  25,  1774. 
ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ZOPHIEL,  ZEPHOX. 

Abdiel.  The  Congress  has  completed  its  great  work: 
Will  soon  adjourn  to  meet  again  in  May. 
Such  wisdom,  prudence,  boldness,  bravery 
Earth  never  saw  before  in  any  land. 


UNITY  TRIUMPHANT. 

They  buried  bigotry.     Opposing  sects 
Built  on  his  grave  the  altar  of  our  God. 
They  banished  selfishness,  and  in  his  place, 
Enthroned  triumphant,  love-crowned  unity. 
They  came  to  speak  of  grievances  endured 
By  persecuted,  struggling  colonies; 
They  go,  the  representatives  and  chiefs 
Of  millions  that  refuse  to  be  oppressed. 


1)0 


JOHN  WYCKLIFFE. 

UzzieL  Comrades,  if  that  be  so,  why  do  they  not 
Cast  off  the  British  yoke  and  rule  themselves? 

Ithuriel.  Their  gen'rous  hearts  retain  a  ling' ring  love 
Of  Britain,  as  the  happy  home  of  their 
Revered  forefathers.     They  share  her  glory, 
Her  renown  inherit.     Her  mighty  arm 
Subdues  all  foreign  foes,  and  is  a  sure 
Defense  for  all  on  whom  she  deigns  to  smile. 


54  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

They  love  her  ancient  laws,  and  dare  to  hope 

For  the  repeal  of  those  tyrannic  acts 

That  now  oppress  them.     Some  are  not  ready 

For  the  final  step  to  independence. 

Self-government  will  come.     They  wisely  wait 

For  full  consent  and  unanimity. 

To  freedom's  friends  this  comes  with  quick'ning  speed. 

The  wrongs  that  suff 'ring  Boston  now  endures 

Awaken  indignation  in  all  hearts. 

Some,  praying,  call  aloud  for  heav'nly  help; 

Others,  with  wrath,  hurl  fierce  anathemas 

At  the  hard-hearted  king  and  ministers. 

Zeplion.  But  who  provides  for  Boston's  families, 
And  drives  the  wolf  of  famine  from  their  homes? 

RapTiael.  The  harvests  of  a  continent  are  theirs, 
Laid  at  their  feet  by  patriotic  hands. 
Gadsden,  of  Carolina,  was  the  first 
Whose  gen'rous  heart  responded  to  their  wants. 
His  crop  of  rice  was  liberty's  first-fruits, 
By  union  brought  to  freedom's  sacred  shrine; 
Then  followed  the  rich  products  of  broad  fields 
From  Alleghanian  heights  to  ocean's  shore. 
Boston  most  gratefully  records  these  gifts, 
Sent  in  her  hour  of  need  from  Southern  soil. 
All  time  shall  witness  with  approving  smiles 
The  tokens  of  her  loving  gratitude. 
Gadsden  and  Charleston  shall  be  household  words, 
Honored  and  loved  beyond  all  other  names. 

Zophiel.  'Tis  less  than  half  a  year  since  General  Gage, 
"With  colors  flying  and  with  booming  guns, 
Sailed  into  Boston  Harbor  with  eclat; 
Then  through  the  perfumed  air  of  flow'ry  May, 
Escorted  by  cadets  that  Hancock  led, 
He  marched  in  triumph  to  the  state-house  square; 
In  Fanueil  Hall  dined  with  the  patriots, 
Assured  them  that  "  the  troubles  of  the  times 
Were  only  lovers'  quarrels,"  and  would  end 
In  halycon  days  of  loving  happiness. 


A  HUMAN  WALL.  55 

"While  thus  dissembling,  he  was  pledged  to  send 
Their  leading  men  as  pris'ners  o'er  the  sea 
To  meet  the  vengeance  of  their  irate  king. 

Uzziel.  Does  his  pretense  of  friendship  still  deceive? 
Or  has  he  dropped  the  mask  that  hid  his  hato? 

Abdiel.  His  gleesome  gala  days  are  ended  now. 
Prison  bounds  restrain  his  wonted  freedom. 
His  troops  to  narrow  limits  are  confined: 
A  living,  human  wall  forbids  escape. 
Broad  as  New  England  now  he  sees  it  rise, 
And  firmer  than  her  frowning  granite  hills. 
His  civic  honors,  his  vice-regal  powers, 
And  all  the  glory  of  supreme  command 
Hide  not  the  horrors  of  his  dismal  fate. 
Escape  by  sea  would  lead  to  dire  disgrace ; 
He  dare  not  venture  upon  hostile  acts. 
In  vain  he  fortifies  against  his  foes: 
His  piteous  cries  for  help  in  his  great  need 
Burden  the  west  winds  and  disturb  the  king. 
It  is  not  "Boston's  rabble"  he  now  fears; 
"Substantial  citizens"  arise  in  arms. 
He  asks  that  peaceful  counsels  may  prevail ; 
Demands  more  troops — English  or  Scotch,  Irish 
Or  mercenary  Germans,  negro  slaves, 
Canadian  French  or  Indian  savages — 
To  save  him  in  this  dread  extremity. 
Without  more  troops  to  fight  the  colonists, 
Ingloriously  idle  he  remains. 
Shut  up  in  Boston  with  his  well-drilled  men, 
Sees  brave  Virginians  boldly  take  up  arms, 
Drive  hostile  Indians  from  their  heritage, 
And  firmly  hold  their  own  with  steel-clad  hands 
Against  King  George  and  Frenchmen  of  Quebec. 
The  boundless  acres  of  the  wid'ning  "West 
As  to  their  fathers  giv'n  are  still  their  own. 

Zephon.  Did  the  mad  king  give  Canada  those  lands? 

Abdiel.  He  did.     His  hatred  of  the  colonies 
Was  stronger  than  his  bitter  bigotry, 


56  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Prompting  vain  efforts  to  convey  the  lands 

Of  true  Virginia  English  Protestants 

To  Roman  Catholics  of  French  Quebec, 

Trying  to  check  the  Old  Dominion's  growth 

By  this  mad  folly  of  an  insane  king. 

Even  Dunmore,  the  Tory  governor, 

Saw  with  delight  Virginians  driving  back 

King  George's  Indians  and  Canadians. 

But  see,  the  Congress  now  hast  just  adjourned. 

There's  Washington,  Lee,  Henry,  Jefferson, 

John  Adams,  Livingston,  Gadsden,  and  Jay, 

And  Samuel  Adams,  who  was  first  to  see 

The  sun  of  independence  in  the  cast. 

Undying  fame  leads  them  to  lofty  heights 

Of  high  renown  and  immortality. 

Scene :  Front  of  St.  John's  Church,  Richmond,  Va.,  April  2,  1775. 
MICHAEL,  GABRIEL,  ITHURIEL,  ABDIEL. 

Michael.  Guardians  of  nations,  comrades  tried  and  true, 
The  dawn  of  independence  now  appears 
From  the  St.  Lawrence  down  to  Florida. 
The  eastern  skies  are  glowing  with  its  light, 
"While  frontier  settlers  in  the  distant  West 
With  exultation  hail  the  bright'ning  beams. 
Chatham  and  Burke  have  eloquently  plead 
With  lords  and  commons  for  colonial  rights; 
But  their  appeals  have  both  been  made  in  vain. 
Franklin  returns  to  tell  his  countrymen 
That  Britain  spurns  their  representative. 
The  royal  governors  retire  in  haste, 
Or  give  their  king's  commissions  to  the  flames. 

Ithuriel.  Michael,  the  breezes  from  the  distant  North 
Come  burdened  with  reports  of  horrid  war. 
'Tis  said  that  thirty  thousand  freemen  armed 
Toward  Boston  now  are  marching  rapidly; 
That  Gage  cannot  escape  but  by  the  sea; 
That  his  drilled  troops,  whipped  by  provincial  boys, 
Seek  safety  in  intrcnchments  and  in  forts. 

Abdiel.     This  colony  to-day  resolves  to  arm 
Her  stalwart  sons  to  fight  for  liberty. 


DUX  MORE  DRIVEN  AWAY: 

Loo,  Washington,  Henry,  and  Jefferson 

Are  to  devise  the  military  plan 

By  which  Virginia's  troops  shall  take  the  field. 

Lord  Dunmore  threatens  to  burn  up  her  towns, 

Arm  slaves,  and  bid  them  desolate  her  homes; 

Give  to  the  gallows  loading  citizens, 

To  scalping-knives  the  tresses  that  adorn 

The  loveliness  of  youth  and  innocence. 

He  thinks  that  with  three  thousand  stand  of  arms, 


57 


SIR  ISAAC  NEWTON. 


Four  pieces  of  artillery  at  hand, 

Three  thousand  saucy,  well-fed  negro  slaves, 

His  brave  marines  and  Indian  savages, 

Ho  can  subdue  these  freemen.     What  say  you  ? 

Gabriel.  I  say  these  patriots  despise  his  threats. 

Ithuriel.  Five  thousand  men,  the  bravest  of  the  brave, 
Are  ready  now  to  drive  him  to  his  ships. 


58  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC 

Michael.  The  Congress  meets  in  May.     Let  us  remain 
And  meet  at  Alexandria  on  the  road. 
Thence  wo  can  travel  with  the  delegates 
To  witness  the  proceedings  and  debates. 

Scene:  Alexandria,   Fa.,  May  1,  1775.    MICHAEL,  GABEIEL,  AB- 
DIEL,  ITHURIEL. 

Michael.     Comrades,  I  hail  you  happy  on  your  way 
To  the  fair  city  where  the  Congress  meets. 
Georgia,  with  but  three  thousand  fighting  men, 
Sees  on  her  soil  ten  thousand  Indian  braves, 
Ready,  for  British  gold,  to  slay  her  sons; 
Yet  does  not  hesitate  in  freedom's  cause 
To  seize  five  hundred  pounds  of  gunpowder 
That  had  been  stored  in  the  king's  magazine; 
And  further,  to  defy  his  Majesty, 
Sends  to  rebellious  Boston  rice  and  gold. 

Abdiel.  South  Carolina  by  heroic  deeds 
Defies  Great  Britain  and  her  hireling  hosts; 
Lays  hold  upon  eight  hundred  stand  of  arms, 
With  ammunition  and  rich  army  stores, 
Ready  for  independence  or  for  war. 
North  Carolina  is  in  arms  to-day : 
Her  governor,  a  fugitive,  makes  haste 
To  leave  the  land  that  spurns  his  tyranny. 

Gabriel.  List  to  the  martial  music  on  the  air ! 
Virginia's  Congressmen  arc  coming  now, 
Escorted  to  the  border  of  their  State 
By  the  brave  men  who  drove  Lord  Dunmorc  out. 
The  journey  of  these  statesmen  toward  the  North 
Has  now  become  a  grand  triumphal  march. 
Applauding  thousands  hail  the  conquerors, 
Victorious  over  boasting  tyranny. 
They  drove  the  British  regulars  in  fight, 
And  did  not  lose  a  single  combatant, 
While  the  red-coated  officers  were  slain 
Till  English  blood  had  fertilized  the  soil. 
They  forced  the  braggart  governor  to  pay 


BATTLE  OF  LEXINGTON.  59 

.    f 

For  their  State's  powder  which  he  basely  stole; 

Then  drove  the  terror-stricken  wretch  to  seek 

With  hasty  steps  a  refuge  on  his  ships. 

The  fiendish  vandal,  filled  with  hellish  hate, 

Gave  Norfolk  to  the  flames  as  he  passed  by. 

'Twas  well  with  fire  to  purify  the  spot 

Where  his  foul  foot  last  touched  the  sacred  soil. 

His  and  his  master's  last  official  act 

In  this,  the  purest  of  all  commonwealths, 

Forced' its  protesting  citizens  to  bear, 

For  England's  glory  and  emolument, 

The  vile,  polluting  horrors  that  belonged 

To  the  dark  slave  trade  which  their  souls  abhorred. 

But  royalty  and  loyalty  depart 

And  false  philanthropy  is  following 

To  keep  the  trio  out;  Eandolph  and  Bland 

Have  just  sold  forty  slaves,  that  they  may  buy 

Powder  to  drive  the  slave-ships  of  King  George 

Far  from  their  honest,  flourishing  young  State 

And  free  New  England  from  his  galling  yoke. 

Scene :  Lexington,  Mass.,  before  day,  April  19,  1775.   SATAN,  BAAT-, 
MOLOCH,  MAES. 

Satan.  Hail !  princes  of  my  more  than  royal  court, 
Bold  leaders  of  my  brave  embattled  hosts ! 
The  conflict  we  have  waited  for  begins. 
There's  Paul  Eevere.     He's  riding  in  hot  haste 
To  warn  the  watchful  sons  of  liberty. 
December  saw  him  rousing  Sullivan, 
Who  captured  Cochrane  and  a  royal  fort 
And  carried  off  its  powder  and  its  arms. 
This  action  of  the  bold  New  Hampshire  men 
Has  led  King  George  to  order  General  Gage 
To  seize  all  arms  and  powder  to  bo  found 
Among  his  rash  rebellious  colonists. 
Obedient  to  this  order  of  the  king, 
Gage  sent  out  Major  Pitcairn  and  some  troops 
Upon  a  midnight  search  to  capture  stores. 
But  Paul  Revere  outrides  the  royalists, 
And  fighting  men  arc  gathering  at  his  call. 
Wives  arm  their  husbands,  mothers  their  young  sons. 


60  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

\    . 

They  come  through  by  paths,  lanes,  and  fields  and  woods 
To  battle  for  the  loved  ones  of  their  homes 
Against  -the  hireling  hosts  of  tyranny. 

Baal.  See!  There  is  Pitcairn  with  his  well-armed  men, 
Confronting  these  defiant,  rustic  youths. 
He  gives  the  order  that  begins  the  war; 
He  calls  them  rebels,  tells  them  to  disperse. 
Behold  those  flashes!  hear  the  sharp  reports! 
The  rustics  fall:  seven  have  ceased  to  breathe, 
Nine  others  from  red  wounds  pour  out  their  lives. 
Hark!  hark!    Death  flies  upon  the  morning  breeze! 
The  red-coats  fall!     The  boasting  Britons  flee 
In  wild  disorder  from  their  untrained  foes. 
Vengeance  awaits  them  whereso'er  they  turn. 
They  rally,  they  stand  firm,  and  standing  die. 

Mars.  Ha-ha!  Ha-ha!     This,  this,  indeed,  is  war. 
I  revel  in  delight  amid  such  scenes. 

Satan.  I  join  you  in  your  reveling.     Hell  howls 
Responsively  to  jubilations  loud. 
With  us  it  joins  to  gloat  on  human  woe. 

Moloch.  Pitcairn  and  Smith  and  their  brave  followers 
Took  ammunition  from  their  enemies, 
But  it  came  through  the  muzzles  of  their  guns 
And  kept  them  from  arresting  patriots. 
So  Samuel  Adams  cannot  now  bo  hanged, 
Nor  must  John  Hancock  die  for  his  good  deeds. 

Scene:  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  June  15, 1775.    MICHAEL  and 
GABRIEL. 

Michael.  What  think  you,  Gabriel,  of  this  Congress 
now? 

Gabriel.  Michael,  its  wisdom  is  most  wonderful. 
So  patient,  yet  so  firm  against  all  wrong. 
It  was  a  master-stroke  of  policy 
That  placed  proscribed  John  Hancock  in  the  chair. 
Virginia,  through  the  lips  of  Harrison, 
Thus  told  King  George  with  hearty  emphasis: 


BUNKER  HILL.  61 

"  Your  royal  fury  cannot  strike  this  man 

Till  our  strong  arms  are  laid  in  patriots'  graves." 

To-day  John  Adams  named  George  Washington 

To  be  the  chief  commander  of  all  troops 

Raised  by  the  colonies  for  their  defense. 

Already  thirty  thousand  rush  to  arms 

To  claim  New  England  for  her  stalwart  sons, 

The  Congress  calls  for  twenty  thbusand  more; 

But  independence  is  the  only  path 

Which  leads  to  freedom  on  this  continent. 

Here  comes  the  modest  hero  who  commands 

The  armies  that  defend  America. 

See  how  the  holy  angels  guide  his  steps 

And  shield  him  from  the  dangers  that  surround! 


Scene:  'Bunker  Hill,  Mass.,  June  18, 1775.    SATAN,  MARS,  MOLOCH, 
MAMMON. 

Satan.  Companions  of  my  life,  partners  in  toil, 
The  triumphs  of  these  times  are  justly  yours. 
I  hail  you  victors  on  this  field  of  fame, 
And  add  my  plaudits  to  the  well-earned  praise 
Hell's  countless  legions  thunder  in  your  ears. 
The  bloody  battle  fought  on  yesterday 
Involves  mankind  in  years  of  bitter  strife. 
'Twas  your  contrivance  that  laid  low  in  dust 
More  than  fourscore  of  Britain's  officers; 
The  flow'r  and  pride  of  England's  chivalry, 
By  rustic  hands  unskilled  in  arts  of  war, 
That  gave  to  death  three  British  regulars 
For  each  provincial  that  in  battle  fell. 
Humiliation,  such  as  England  bears, 
Will  drive  to  desperation  those  who  rule. 
A  cry  for  vengeance  will  ring  through  the  realm 
Euled  by  the  baffled,  disappointed  king — 
Vengeance  and  rage  that  will  not  count  the  cost 
In  cash,  or  tears,  or  blood,  or  agony. 
Moloch,  you  shall  see  blood  in  torrents  flow, 
While  fearful  shrieks  and  groans  shall  charm  your  cars. 
Brave  Mars,  embattled  hosts  in  many  a  field 
To  you  rich  harvests  of  delight  shall  yield.  ' 


62  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Ho!  Mammon,  why  are  you  so  thoughtful  grown? 
Why  melancholy,  mid  our  revelry? 

Mammon.  'Tis  not  that  men  are  hated  less  by  me, 
Not  that  I  less  delight  in  human  woe; 
But  the  destruction  of  their  treasured  hoards 
Consumes  the  bait  with  which  I  fish  for  souls. 
I  saw  them  die  in  agony,  and  laughed; 
But  when  the  flames  licked  up  and  turned  to  dust 
Charlestown's  four  hundred  dwellings  and  their  wealth, 
'Twas  a  sad  sight  to  see  such  willful  waste 
Of  what  I  could  have  used  to  ruin  souls. 
War  hurries  men  to  death  in  tender  youth, 
Untutored  in  the  worst  of  villainies; 
Wealth  schools  in  vice  and  graduates  in  crime, 
While  hearts  grow  harder  than  the  hoarded  gold. 
Wealth  leads  to  war  that's  worthy  of  the  name, 
And  peoples  hell  with  its  worst  denizens. 
Give  me  the  time  to  make  these  rustics  rich, 
Then  they  will  glut  war's  strongest  appetite. 
You  well  remember  how  old  Nineveh, 
Tyre,  Babylon,  Damascus,  mighty  Rome, 
Had  wealth  worth  fighting  for,  and  fearful  crimes: 
Were  rich,  ripe,  rotten,  filled  with  wasting  spoils. 
When  cow-boy  armies  plunder  villages, 
What  honor  has  great  Mars,  the  god  of  war? 
When  Alexander  reaped  old  Asia's  fields, 
Harvests  of  glory  round  his  footsteps  fell. 

Mars.  Mammon,  to  work  out  ruin  for  your  friends, 
You  can  improve  uncounted  centuries; 
But  war  is  now  the  order  of  the  day, 
And  hast'ning  thousands  swiftly  rush  to  arms. 
One  man  like  Warren,  upon  Bunker  Hill, 
Outweighs  the  worth  of  countless  stores  of  gold. 
Even  his  ashes  centuries  to  come 
Shall  still  inspire  the  bravest,  noblest  deeds. 
3£now  ye  that  when  Ticondoroga  fell 
The  king  lost  what  had  cost  his  treasury 
Eight  millions  sterling  and  vast  army  stores, 
With  eixscore  pieces  of  artillery? 


WASHINGTON  COMMANDED.  63 

Crown  Point  surrendered  two  days  afterward. 
If  Ethan  Allen,  leading  fourscore  men, 
Wrought  such  destruction  in  a  few  brief  hours, 
Uncounted  millions  must  most  freely  blaze 
As  fiery-footed  war  walks  through  the  land. 

Satan.  Comrades,  your  disputation  profits  not. 
Since  men  destroy  each  other,  we  exult. 
Be  ours  the  task  to  keep  their  hate  inflamed, 
And  urge  them  on  to  deeds  of  violence. 
Conquer  who  may,  ours  is  the  victory. 

Mars.  There's  Prescott,  who  commanded  on  that  hill; 
There  Grid  ley,  his  accomplished  engineer, 
And  Israel  Putnam,  bravo  as  man  can  be. 

Scene:  American  encampment,  near  Boston,  July  10,  1775.    SATAN 
and  MARS. 

Mars.  What  mean  the  acclamations  that  we  hear? 
They  sound  like  joyous  shouts  of  men  in  arms. 
Has  a  detachment  gained  a  victory, 
Or  does  the  royal  army  leave  the  place? 

Satan.  Not  so.     The  chosen  chief  of  thirteen  States 
Reviews  the  troops  placed  under  his  command. 
The  patriot  army  hears,  for  the  first  time, 
The  wise  and  weighty  words  of  the  great  man 
Who  leads  them  forth  to  vict'ry  or  defeat. 
To-day  they  all  seem  jubilant  and  proud, 
Defying  Britain's  king  and  Parliament 
And  all  the  forces  they  may  have  to  meet. 
Let  them  crow  on.     These  game  birds  soon  shall  set 
Their  sharp,  strong  spurs  to  drawing  kindred  blood. 

Scene :  Independence  Square,  Philadelphia,  July  S,  1776.   MICHAEL, 
GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZEPHON,  RAPHAEL,  AKIEL. 

Michael.  Hail!  honored  comrades,  offspring  of  our  God! 
Behold  a  nation  struggling  into  life ! 
The  noblest,  greatest,  grandest  of  all  time. 
Gabriel,  the  nations  long  have  claimed  your  care: 
These  rising  States  you've  watched  with  partial  eye. 
Say,  are  they  ripe  for  independence  now  ? 


64  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Gabriel.  Michael,  they  are.     It  is  their  own  by  right. 
I  joy  to  see  them  claim  their  heritage, 
And  crown  themselves  with  wise  self-government. 

Michael.  Zophiel,  we  turn  to  you  inquiringly. 
The  English  and  their  king  to  you  are  dear. 
Have  they  not  forfeited  their  claims  to  rule 
This  generous  people  and  their  lovely  land  ? 

Zophiel.  Yes,  England  blooms  in  beauty  and  in  grace. 
Her  youthful  king  seems  crowned  with  piety; 
Her  people  full  of  wisdom  from  on  high. 
Alas!  poor  king!     Insanity's  at  fault 
For  half  his  folly  and  for  all  his  crime. 
But  these  fair  States  ought  now  to  be  set  free 
From  king  and  nobles  and  all  foreign  sway; 
Owning  allegiance  to  the  King  of  kings, 
And  living  in  obedience  to  his  laws. 
More  than  a  year  England  has  stood  appalled. 
Lord  North  would  gladly  have  resigned  his  place 
And  called  an  abler  man  to  save  the  state. 
Wesley  besought  the  king  to  shed  no  blood. 
London  demanded  peace,  while  statesmen  wept. 
But  the  crazed  king  hearkened  to  no  appeal : 
His  own  rash  hand  plucked  from  his  diadern 
The  brightest  jewel  that  was  glitt'ring  there. 

Michael.  What  think  you,  Abdiel  ?    Is  the  rich,  ripe 

fruit 

Of  independence  in  the  reach  of  these 
Brave  sons  of  liberty?     If  not,  say  why. 

Abdiel.  Yes.     Independence  now  is  theirs  of  right. 
Virginia  long  ago  demanded  it. 
The  pen  of  Jefferson,  the  eloquence 
Of  Henry  and  of  Lee,  the  solid  sense 
Of  Washington  and  Wythe  convince  all  minds 
That  independence  is  the  people's  right. 
When  last  November  a  French  agent  camo 
To  offer  ammunition,  money,  arms, 
This  seemed  to  give  assurance  of  success 
In  spite  of  all  the  armies  of  King  George. 


MECKLENBURG — CANADA.  65 

Michael.  Ithuriel,  wo  wait  your  true  report 
Of  the  position  of  the  uunny  South. 

Ithuriel.  Michael,  'twas  more  than  fourteen  months  ago 
That  independence  freely  was  proclaimed 
By  Carolinians  at  Mecklenburg. 
A  few  days  since  eight  hours  of  bombardment 
Stranded  three  British  ships  near  Moul trie's  fort, 
Wounded  the  Admiral  and  drove  his  fleet 
To  seek  for  shelter  with  his  loyal  friends 
In  some  safe  harbor  near  to  Halifax; 
Killed  bravo  Lord  Campbell,  last  of  governors 
To  rule  by  royal  right  or  royal  wrong. 
From  the  Potomac  down  to  Florida 
Immediate  independence  is  the  cry. 

Michael.  Zophon,  what  news  have  you  from  Canada? 
Does  the  St.  Lawrence  own  our  union's  sway  ? 

Zephon.  September  saw  Montgomery's  brave  men 
March  northward,  take  Fort  Chambly  and  St.  Johns, 
Seize  Montreal  and  move  to  strong  Quebec. 
Success  attended  them  upon  their  march. 
When  stern  December  hurled  her  fearful  blasts, 
Chilling  their  vitals  on  the  battle-field, 
They  bravely  faced  the  storms  and  fought  their  foes, 
Until  their  leader  fell  with  glory  crowned. 
Then,  turning  from  the  conflict  with  sad  hearts, 
They  mourned  the  loss  their  country  had  sustained; 
While  tears  of  grief  froze  on  their  manly  cheeks, 
And  gnawing  hunger  fed  upon  their  strength. 
'Twas  sad  to  know  Montgomery  was  dead ; 
Far  more  than  sad  to  know  that  his  shed  blood 
Had  failed  to  waken  in  Canadian  hearts 
Longings  for  liberty  and  civil  rights. 
Staining  the  frozen  snow  with  bleeding  feet, 
Southward  their  melancholy  march  began. 
Perhaps  'tis  well  the  expedition  failed. 
Untrained  in  freedom's  Anglo-Saxon  school, 
Canadians  have  not  learned  the  patriots'  lore; 
Their  undrilled,  slow-paced  feet  could  not  keep  step 
With  freedom's  rapid  march  to  high  renown. 
5 


66  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

But  south  of  the  St.  Lawrence  and  the  lakes 
All  things  arc  ripe  for  independence  now. 

Michael.  How  fares  the  army  led  by  Washington  ? 
llaphael,  we  wait  to  hear  what  you  have  seen. 

Raphael.  Michael,  the  great  commander  took  his 

place 

At  duty's  call  more  than  a  year  ago. 
Brave,  stalwart  men  gathered  in  multitudes 
To  do  his  bidding  with  alacrity, 
Or  follow  where  he  led  against  the  foe. 
But  ammunition  could  not  be  obtained; 
The  summer  passed,  autumn  and  winter  came 
With  only  preparations  for  the  strife. 
He  held  the  foe  in  Boston  prison  bounds, 
With  no  way  of  escape  but  by  the  sea; 
Yet  was  himself  fettered  by  scarcity 
Of  balls  and  powder  for  the  coming  fight. 
At  last,  in  March,  the  royalists,  alarmed, 
Saw  on  the  lofty  heights  of  Dorchester 
Artillery  to  belch  forth  fiery  death, 
And  drive  them  from  the  city  they  oppressed. 
Nothing  remained  to  them  but  swift  retreat. 
Boston,  set  free,  is  gay  and  jubilant, 
While  all  New  England  independence  claims. 
The  patriot  army  proud  of  its  success, 
Hopes  soon  to  drive  the  English  o'er  the  sea. 

Michael.  Such  baseless  hopes  should  not  be  entertained. 
I  know  that  they  deceive  not  Washington. 

Raphael.  The  thoughtful  leader  scans  most  carefully 
Each  movement  of  his  country's  enemies; 
He  knows  the  conflict  must  be  desperate. 
Though  crowned  with  laurels  and  by  millions  praised, 
Boston's  retreat  and  Charleston's  brave  repulse 
Show  him  no  easy  path  to  liberty. 
Keen  vigilance,  untiring  energv, 
And  patient,  persevering,  faithful  toil 
Arc  all  devoted  to  his  country's  cause. 


INDEPENDENCE  DECLARED.  67 

Ariel.  His  countrymen  must  rally  to  his  help, 
Or  all  his  efforts  will  be  made  in  vain. 
King  George  demands  more  armaments  and  men: 
Twenty-five  thousand  brawny  Englishmen; 
Of  hireling  Hessians,  fresh  froui  Germany, 
Seventeen  thousand,  drilled  and  officered; 
Of  silly  Tories  and  of  savage  tribes 
No  man  has  numbered  the  vast  multitudes 
That  England's  treasury  can  arm  for  war. 
To  meet  those  countless  foes  the  patriot  chief, 
In  his  glad  hours  of  wonderful  success, 
Has  only  twenty-seven  thousand  men. 
How  many  will  stand  by  him  in  defeat, 
Time  yet  must  test  by  stern  adversity. 

Ithuriel.  You  spoke  of  a  commissioner  from  France, 
Who  tendered  help  in  money,  arms,  and  stores. 

Abdiel.  France,  jealous  of  Britannia's  growing  strength, 
Stands  with  her  millions  ready  to  take  part 
In  all  that  tends  to  lay  her  rival  low. 

Gabriel.  This  French  alliance  gives  well-grounded  hopes 
Of  speedy  independence  for  these  States. 

Michael.  Long  months  ago  Virginia  and  the  South 
Severed  all  ties  that  bound  them  to  the  king. 
New  England  still  defies  his  Majesty. 
The  slow-paced  patriots  of  these  Middle  States 
Hold  back  their  more  enthusiastic  friends. 
They  need  angelic  aid :  let  us  assist. 
Go  thou,  Ithuriel,  to  the  hypocrites 
Who  only  feign  a  love  for  liberty. 
Expose  their  sordid,  base  hypocrisy; 
Tear  off  their  masks,  and  treat  them  with  contempt. 
Go,  Abdiel,  to  the  men  who  hesitate. 
Rouse  them  to  prompt,  immediate  action  now. 
Zephon,  timidity  demands  your  help. 
Fill  the  faint-hearted  with  courageous  thoughts. 
Raphael,  the  great  committee  needs  your  aid 
To  have  the  declaration  formed  aright, 


68  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Not  only  as  to  principles  and  words, 

But  see  that  no  expression  gives  offense 

To  any  of  the  wise  contracting  States. 

The  slave  trade  is  denounced  in  such  strong  terms 

As  Georgia  never  will  consent  to  use; 

Nor  will  New  England  thus  condemn  her  sons 

For  trafficking  in  human  flesh  and  blood. 

One  wants  the  slaves  to  cultivate  her  lands; 

The  other  wants  the  profits  of  the  trade. 

The  Carolinas,  too,  would  like  to  have 

Some  changes  made  in  those  offensive  words; 

So  Jefferson  must  alter  those  bold  lines, 

Or  else  for  peace  must  let  them  be  expunged. 

Gabriel,  to  patriot,  John  Adams,  go! 

Touch  with  celestial  fire  his  lips  and  tongue ; 

Give  him  the  spirit  of  convincing  speech, 

The  eloquence  that  men  cannot  resist, 

That  Congress  may  be  carried  as  by  storm. 

At  2  o'clock  to-morrow  let  us  meet. 

Independence  Square,  Philadelphia,,  2  o'clock,  July  4, 1776.    MICHAEL, 
GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZEPHON,  RAPHAEL,  ARIEL. 

Gabriel.  Comrades,  the  Congress  now  begins  to  vote. 
The  great  decision  soon  will  be  made  known. 
John  Adams  was  most  eloquent  of  men : 
They  could  not  but  agree  to  all  he  said. 

Michael.  The  bell  of  liberty  begins  to  sound; 
The  people  cry  aloud  in  tones  of  joy: 
"  Give  praise  to  God !     'Tis  Independence  Day ! " 


BOOK  FOURTH 


Scene:    Trenton,  N,   J.,   December  25,  1776.     GABRIEL,  UZZIEL, 
ITHURIEL,  RAPHAEL. 

Raphael.  'Tis  a  sad  Christmas  to  Americans. 
Of  late  discouragements  have  been  their  fate. 
Last  August  thirty  thousand  enemies 
Drove  them  across  Long  Island,  with  the  loss 
Of  a  full  thousand  valiant  fighting  men. 
With  muffled  oars  they  hastened  to  New  York; 
Thence  up  to  Harlem  Heights,  from  which  they  saw 
Five  hundred  blazing  homes  to  light  their  way. 
Fort  Washington,  with  its  brave  garrison, 
Surrendered  in  November  to  the  foe : 
Its  thousands,  in  vile  pestilential  cells, 
Await  their  death.     Fort  Lee  was  left  in  haste; 
Its  stores  were  lost.     The  army,  driv'n  with  speed 
Across  New  Jersey  to  the  Delaware, 
Seized  all  the  boats  and  to  the  other  shore 
In  safety  crossed  with  but  three  thousand  men. 

Ithuriel.  Charles  Lee  wras  ordered  to  conduct  his  men 
With  haste  to  join  the  troops  of  Washington ; 
But  he — vain  marplot  of  his  chieftain's  plans — 
Was  taken  by  the  British  to  New  York. 
He's  more  a  Briton  than  American ; 
His  army,  led  by  Sullivan,  escaped, 
And  joined  the  standard  of  their  honored  chief. 
The  patriots  now  can  claim  six  thousand  men. 
Congress  has  fled  from  Philadelphia, 
At  Baltimore  votes  dictatorial  power 
•To  Washington,  that  he  may  save  their  cause. 

Uzziel.  Prospects,  indeed,  seem  gloomy  in  this  land. 
Its  destiny  depends  upon  one  man — 
Upon  his  honor  and  capacity. 

(69) 


70  THE  AMEKICAN  EPIC. 

Who  saves  his  country  from  a  foreign  foo 
Is  tempted  much  to  save  it  for  himself; 
Or  if  he  cannot  grasp  the  highest  prize, 
And  seat  himself  upon  a  despot's  throne, 
May  he  not  use  his  sword  to  force  a  peace, 
And  for  it  claim  at  least  the  second  place 
In  the  great  government  that  he  makes  strong? 
He  may  play  Cassar  if  not  Gen'ral  Monk; 
If  not  an  emperor,  a  British  peer. 

Ithuriel.  'Twas  not  Virginia  air  that  Ca?sar  breathed; 
'Twas  no  Virginia  mother  nourished  Monk. 
True  to  his  country,  Washington  will  stand 
Firm  as  the  mountains  of  his  native  land. 

Uzziel.  Suspect  not  Washington  of  treachery; 
Doubt  not  but  he  will  do  what  man  can  do, 
But  when  an  ice-bridge  spans  the  Delaware, 
What  shall  hold  back  the  British  from  their  prey? 
Then  they  must  yield  to  Britain  or  to  death, 
Because  the  country  has  been  so  subdued 
That  Cornwallis  starts  off  for  Europe  soon, 
And  Howe  expects  a  Philadelphia  home. 
What  think  you,  Gabriel,  of  the  prospect  now  ? 

Gabriel.  'Tis  desperate  indeed ;  but  Washington 
Still  leads  his  ragged  troops  from  place  to  place; 
Upon  his  side,  by  pow'r  divine  arrayed, 
Are  all  of  Europe's  selfish  jealousies; 
Old  ocean's  ev'ry  wave  and  ev'ry  gale; 
The  deep,  broad  rivers  of  his  native  land — 
Their  ice-clad  torrents  and  their  sunny  floods; 
They've  been  his  playmates  from  his  joyous  youth, 
Are  now  his  allies  hast'ning  to  his  help; 
They  shield  him  from  the  fury  of  his  foes. 
In  league  with  these  his  country's  hills  and  vales, 
Her  lofty  mountains,  and  her  fertile  plains, 
With  all  their  grand  majestic  distances, 
Fight  freedom's  battles  in  her  hour  of  need. 
Then  millions  of  brave  hearts  and  ready  hands 
Pledge  each  red  drop  that  pulsates  in  the  veins 
Of  liberty's  unconquerable  sons 


BATTLE  OF  TRENTON.  71 

To  the  defense  of  home  and  native  land. 

But  best  of  all,  his  trust  is  in  our  God. 

Hark !  hark !  what  sounds  are  those  that  strike  the  ear? 

The  noise  of  battle  floats  upon  the  breeze; 

The  hated  Hessians  wake  to  meet  their  fate. 

At  the  first  onset,  Eahl,  their  leader,  fell. 
They  die,  they  bleed,  they  beg,  they  plead  for  life. 
A  few  on  horseback  fled  to  Bordenton, 
But  Trenton's  garrison  are  prisoners, 
Of  death  or  of  the  troops  of  Washington. 
The  living,  bound,  are  hurried  o'er  the  waves 
Expecting  death  in  some  most  horrid  form, 
From  men  they  have  been  told  are  cannibals. 
There's  Sullivan,  there's  Greene,  there's  Washington. 
Last  night  they  fought  the  fury  of  the  storm, 
The  floating  ice,  the  chilling,  white  capped  waves; 
This  morning  marched  to  meet  a  slecpjng  foe. 
Now,  crowned  with  vict'ry,  cross  the  Delaware, 
Secure  their  pris'ners  and  their  spoils  of  war. 
This  daring  deed  will  shake  the  British  Isle 
From  its  strong  confidence  of  victory. 
'Twill  kindle  hope  in  ev'ry  patriot's  heart, 
And  nerve  the  arms  of  freemen  for  the  strife. 

Scene:  Princeton,  N.  J.,  at  day-break,  January  4,  1777.    GABRIEL, 
ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL,  UZZIEL,  RAPHAEL. 

Uzziel.  Why  wait  we"  hero  ?     Trenton  demands  our 

care ! 

'Tis  there  the  war-cloud  frowns  most  gloomily. 
There  Hessians,  waking  from  the  sluggish  sleep 
That  followed  their  coarse  Christmas  revelry, 
Found  Washington  had  crossed  the  Delaware 
To  kill  or  capture  Trenton's  garrison. 
More  than  two  thousand  fell  or  fled  away, 
Or  passed  as  captives  o'er  the  broad,  rough  stream. 
If  the  great  chief  had  watched  his  prisoners, 
And  kept  his  troops  on  Pennsylvania  ground, 
He  would  have  shunned  the  peril  he  is  in ; 
But  he  returned  to  Trenton,  and  has  found 
Cornwallis  hastening  to  capture  him. 


72  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Raphael.  By  thousands  British  troops  do  concentrate 
To  capture  Washington  and  end  the  war. 
They  have  him  where  they  long  have  wanted  him, 
And  now  can  pounce  upon  their  noble  prey. 
He  and  his  troops  seern  hopelessly  entrapped. 

AbdieL  Cornwallis  led  from  this  place  troops  enough 
To  crush  the  little  army  he  opposed; 
They  fought  there  yesterday  till  dark  came  down. 
This  morning  larger  numbers  march  from  here. 
They  start  for  Trenton  by  the  break  of  day. 

Ithuriel.  To  make  sure  work  they  gather  from  all 

points, 

And  hope  to  capture  full  five  thousand  men, 
With  Washington  and  his  best  generals. 
What  noise  is  that  waking  the  villagers  ? 
The  sound  of  battle  on  these  classic  grounds 
Is  startling  even  to  an  angel's  ear. 
Gabriel,  can  you  inform  us  what  it  means  ? 

Gabriel.  It  means  the  British  army  has  been  left 
To  beat  the  air  in  Trenton  this  cold  da}-; 
While  Washington  surprises  thousands  here, 
And  strikes  the  bravest  of  their  vet'rans  down. 
He  kept  his  camp-fires  blazing  and  marched  round 
The  num'rous  army  of  his  pow'rful  foes. 
The  unsuspecting  Princeton  troops  are  brave; 
They,  with  their  bright  and  bristling  bayonets, 
Drive  raw  recruits  before  them  from  the  field. 
But  Mercer  leads  his  valiant  veterans 
And  turns  the  bloody  tide  of  battle  back. 
He  falls — the  conflict  rages  fearfully ; 
Death  riots  on  the  bravest  of  the  brave, 
And  victory,  bewildered,  hesitates 
To  crown  the  brave,  unflinching  combatants. 
But  hark !     A  voice  rings  out  upon  the  air 
That  stirs  in  patriots  resistless  might; 
Its  tones  are  heard  where  leaden  hail  falls  fast, 
And  sulphurous  smoke  hides  human  forms  from  sight. 
The  target  often  thousand  well-aimed  balls 
Cannot  escape  by  any  human  means. 


BURGOYNE 's  SURRENDER.  73 

Abdicl,  thy  shield  throw  round  him,  or  ho  falls: 
Its  heavenly  temper  from  destruction  saves. 

The  morning  breeze  lifts  up  the  stifling  smoke, 

And  shows  the  bloody  battle  nobly  won. 

The  British  line  in  wild  disorder  broke 

Before  the  valiant  charge  of  Washington. 

Well  may  that  steed  prance  proudly  o'er  the  field, 

Displaying  more  of  matchless  majesty 

Than  all  past  ages  ever  yet  did  yield ; 

More  virtue,  valor,  Christian  chivalry ! 

Scene :  Saratoga,  N.   Y.,  October  17,  1777.     MICHAEL,  ITIIUKIEL, 
ZEPHON. 

Ithuriel.  There  is  a  cheering  sight  to  kindle  joy 
In  cv'ry  home  of  all  these  colonies ! 
Burgoyne,  in  June,  marched  with  ten  thousand  men, 
Well-armed  and  well-equipped  for  camp  or  field. 
At  his  approach  the  patriots  fled  away 
From  their  strong  places  and  their  army  stores; 
But  bold  John  Stark  at  Bennington,  Vermont, 
Whipped  two  detachments  of  his  bravest  men. 
His  Indian  allies  have  deserted  him. 
Two  recent  battles  brought  defeat  and  loss. 
Within  three  days  starvation's  work  begins, 
And  there  remains  no  way  by  which  t'  escape. 
This  mighty  army  now  capitulates. 
The  proud  Burgoyne,  with  his  six  thousand  braves, 
And  six  wise  members  of  the  Parliament, 
Surrender  to  the  rustic  colonists. 
They,  with  themselves,  give  up  abundant  stores, 
With  ammunition  for  the  next  campaign ; 
Five  thousand  muskets,  forty-two  brass  guns, 
And,  worst  of  all,  the  prestige  of  success. 

Zephon.  The  news  of  this  humiliating  stroke 
Will  startle  Britain  like  an  earthquake  shock, 
And  make  her  monarch  tremble  on  his  throne. 
'Twill  strengthen  Franklin  at  the  court  of  France, 
And  bring  about  a  formal  alliance. 

Ithuriel.  Will  this  bring  independence,  peace,  and  joy  ? 


74  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Michael.  Not  now.     Britannia  claims  the  right  to  tax, 
And  in  all  cases  whatsoever  rule. 
When  the  sad  news  of  this  calamity 
Comes  to  King  George,  it  may  dethrone  his  mind, 
But  will  not  change  his  policy  at  all. 
His  right  to  govern  people  as  he  wills 
Must  not  be  questioned  by  the  colonists. 
Bather  than  this  England's  last  ship  and  her  last 

regiment 

Must  cross  the  ocean  to  keep  up  the  fight. 
When  Holland,  France,  and  Spain  shall  bo  combined 
To  fight  the  battles  of  her  colonies, 
England  may  wake  from  her  delusive  dreams 
Of  subjugation  to  her  heavy  yoke. 
At  present  British  troops  claim  victories 
Upon  the  Delaware.     They  drive  away 
From  Philadelphia  the  Congressmen. 
The  names  of  Germantown  and  Brandywine, 
Waking  sad  memories  in  patriots, 
Will,  to  the  king  and  ministers,  give  hope 
Of  final  victory  for  British  arms, 
And  cause  the  flame  of  war  to  still  blaze  on. 
The  conq'rors  and  the  conquered  come  this  way. 
What  pity  they  should  shed  each  other's  blood! 
There's  Gates,  there's  Morgan,  Starkc  of  Bennington. 
See  Schuyler,  Lincoln,  Arnold,  and  St.  Clair. 
There  Kosciusko,  the  brave  Polander; 
And  there's  Burgoyne,  with  captive  officers. 

Scene :  Near  Monmouih,  N.  J.,  June  21, 1778.    SATAN,  MARS,  BAAL, 
MOLOCH,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  How  fare  my  trusty  friends?     How  goes  the 
war? 

Mars.  The  British  have  lost  Boston  since  we  met; 
In  their  attack  on  Charleston  been  repulsed  ; 
By  battles  near  to  Brooklyn  and  New  York 
Compelled  the  patr'ts  to  retreat  in  haste 
Across  New  Jersey  to  the  Delaware, 
With  but  three  thousand  ragged  warriors. 
The  patriot  chief  passed  o'er  that  freezing  stream, 
Leaving  no  boats  by  which  his  foes  might  cross. 


VALLEY  FORGE.  75 

The  Congress  fled  away  to  Baltimore, 

Giving  the  General  dictatorial  power. 

Joined  by  a  few  recruits,  he  turned  again, 

Pressed  on  through  floating  ice,  surprised  his  foes, 

Defeated  them,  sent  to  the  Southern  shore 

His  numerous  captives;  crossed  the  stream  again, 

As  if  to  court  defeat.     His  feeble  force 

Faced  a  strong  army  and  defied  its  pow'r; 

Skirmished  a  day  with  varying  success, 

But,  with  his  camp-fires  burning,  marched  by  night 

To  strike  with  consternation  other  foes. 

Full  thirteen  miles  away  at  dawn  of  day. 

Trenton  and  Princeton  furnished  battle-fields 

On  which  the  pride  of  Britain  was  brought  low. 

Then  came  the  time  for  haughty  royalists 

To  flee  before  their  ragged  enemies. 

Before  another  year  had  passed  away 

Ships  bore  the  Britons  up  the  Chesapeake. 

At  Brandywine  the  patriots  were  whipped; 

At  Germantown  repulsed  with  fearful  loss. 

Again  the  Congress  fled.     Howe  and  his  hosts 

Seized  Philadelphia,  and  gave  several  months 

To  merry  revelry,  with  now  and  then 

Heroic  work,  burning  defenseless  homes. 

The  patriots,  meanwhile,  at  Valley  Forge, 

Half  starved,  half  clad,  unshod,  stained  with  their  blood 

The  snow  on  which  they  trod.     But  when  spring  came, 

Reports  of  help  from  France  passed  through  the  camp, 

Infusing  hope  and  joy  where  nuffring  reigned. 

Howe  and  his  troops  forsook  their  city  friends, 

And  sought  a  way  of  safety  toward  the  sea. 

'Tis  nearly  time  that  they  should  pass  this  way. 

Of  Saratoga  and  the  British  force 

That  there  surrendered  you  have  long  since  heard. 

I  need  not  speak  of  Gates  or  of  Burgoyne. 

Thus  much  about  the  progress  of  the  war. 

What  has  been  done  in  other  fields  of  fame? 

Belial.  At  Philadelphia,  I  have  long  held  sway 
O'er  all  the  victims  of  degrading  vice, 
And  many  of  the  lofty  I've  debased. 


76  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Baal.  Yes,  not  a  few  of  the  polite,  the  proud, 
The  rich,  the  gay,  the  great  have  fallen  low, 
Th'  unhappy  victims  of  degrading  vice. 
In  their  humiliation  I  delight. 

Moloch.  With  fiendish  satisfaction  I  have  watched 
The  starving,  freezing  troops  at  Valley  Forge, 
And,  gloating  over  Washington's  distress, 
Have  wondered  how  much  anguish  he  could  bear. 

Mammon.  I  too  have  done  my  part  to  crush  the  chief, 
By  tempting  the  most  covetous  to  hoard 
What  might  have  bought  supplies  for  freezing  men. 

Satan.  A  bolder,  more  destructive  work  was  mine : 
I  turned  the  hearts  of  patriots  from  their  chief, 
And  undermined  their  confidence  in  him; 
Not  in  his  virtues,  but  his  generalship. 
I  told  of  Gates  and  his  great  victory, 
Of  proud  Charles  Leo  and  his  accomplishments; 
I  led  them  to  desire  a  daring  chief, 
Ready  to  take  great  risks  and  end  the  strife. 
I  puffed  up  Coriway,  with  such  self-conceit 
That  even  he  aspired  to  leadership. 
The  simpleton  deceived  and  led  astray 
Some  of  the  purest  of  the  patriots. 
But  mortifying  failure  marred  our  plans. 
The  patriot  leader,  proof  against  our  plots, 
Sublimely  tow'red  above  all  rivalry. 
But  proud  old  Lee,  still  under  my  control, 
Will  sorely  vex  the  chieftain  here  to-day. 
I  hear  the  booming  of  artillery. 
Ha!  ha!     The  tide  of  battle  flows  this  way! 

Mars.  Hold,  Satan,  I  must  mingle  in  this  fight ! 

Moloch.  And  I  must  gloat  upon  the  sufferings 
Of  thousands  battling  on  this  sultry  day. 

Mammon.  I  go  to  gather  up  the  spoils  of  war. 
Belial.  And  I  to  riot  amid  vilest  deeds. 


BATTLE  OF  MON MOUTH.  77 

Satan.  In  full  retreat  the  Continentals  come. 
Charles  Lee  has  done  as  I  instructed  him. 
An  English  heart  beats  warmly  in  his  breast; 
'Tis  full  of  rage  at  Washington  to-day. 
And  yonder  comes  the  chief  to  meet  the  foe. 
He  checks  and  turns  retreating  soldiery. 
'Tis  British  troops  now  haste  in  mad  retreat: 
But  what  a  vision  breaks  upon  my  view 
As  Washington  meets  Leel     Never  have  I 
Seen  such  a  countenance  since  Michael  frowned 
On  mo  in  our  first  conflict  on  the  hills 
Of  my  own  native  heav'n  1     Sublimely  grand, 
lie  rides  in  manly  majesty.     Sternness, 
Severity,  heroic  rage,  reproof, 
Rebuke,  and  lofty  indignation  blend 
With  high  authority  in  the  great  chief, 
As  he,  in  startling  thunder  tones  exclaims: 
"  Halt,  Gcn'ral  Lee!     In  God's  great  name  I  ask 
Why  all  this  ill-timed  prudence  here  to-day?" 
Lee,  with  insulting  nonchalance,  replied : 
"  Unless  reports  be  false,  no  man  has  more 
Of  that  rascally  virtue  than  yourself." 
" Go  to  the  rear,  insulting  miscreant,  go!" 
So  said  the  chief.     "  Let  all  the  brave,  the  true 
Forward  with  me  to  glorious  victory." 
Forward  they  go,  Lafayette,  Sullivan, 
Charles  Scott,  and  other  horocs  with  their  chief, 
Sweeping  before  them  England's  veterans. 

Scene :    Louisville,  Ky.,  Falls  of  the  Ohio.    Sunset,  July  SO,  1778. 
RAPHAEL,  ZEPHON,  ARIEL. 

Ariel.  Comrades,  from  yonder  lofty  ridge  is  seen 
A  landscape,  the  most  grand  and  beautiful 
That  charms  the  eye  or  melts  the  heart  of  man. 
Th'  encircling  hills,  radiant  in  sunset  hues, 
Seem  piled  in  grandeur  to  protect  from  harm 
God's  loveliest  children  in  this  paradise. 
That  matchless  river  flows  like  molten  gold 
Between  bright  shores  of  greenest  emerald, 
Bedecked  with  flowers  and  enriched  with  fruits. 


78  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

'Tis  hero  shall  rise,  in  the  blest  years  to  come, 
Homes  of  the  beautiful,  the  pure,  the  brave, 
Of  maids  most  amiable,  aud  men  most  true. 

Zephon   What  men  are  these  who  seem  to  come  from 

far, 

Toil-worn,  yet  joyful,  to  these  rustic  homes  ? 
List  to  their  shouts  of  triumph  as  they  come! 
The  town  pours  forth  its  happy  denizens 
With  glad  congratulations  on  their  tongues. 
See  the  young  prattlers  claim  a  father's  kiss, 
And  stalwart  men  press  loved  ones  to  their  hearts. 
Sec  joyful  tears  streaming  from  sparkling  eyes, 
And  love's  own  blushes  glow  on  beauty's  cluek! 
What  makes  these  people  all  so  jubilant  ? 

Raphael.  These  are  Virginia's  brave  and  daring  sons, 
Sent  forth  by  her  to  wrest  from  enemies 
The  broad  domain  that  has  been  hers  of  right 
Nearly  two  centuries,  and  still  is  hers. 
TJncancelcd  royal  charters,  oft  renewed, 
Confirmed  her  title  over  all  these  lands 
From  the  Atlantic  to  Pacific's  coast. 
When  Franco  intruded,  her  indignant  sons 
Drove  the  proud  Frenchmen  from  their  heritage. 
When  George  the  Third  stretched  Canada  this  way 
To  check  the  spread  of  freedom  in  the  West, 
They  drove  the  land  thieves  of  the  king  away 
In  spite  of  all  the  claims  of  royalty. 
The  Western  forts  surrendered  by  the  French 
Have  all  boon  used  by  British  cruelty 
To  arm  the  Indians  for  a  deadly  strife 
That  spared  not  infancy  nor  womanhood. 
But  these  frontiersmen,  at  Virginia's  call, 
Subdued  her  foes,  and  by  their  valor  won 
The  nascent  empire  she  had  well-nigh  lost. 
The  garrisons,  surprised,  laid  down  their  arms, 
Surrendering  to  rightful  ownership 
The  vast,  unmeasured  region  that  extends 
From  where  the  mighty  rivers  of  the  West 
Unite  to  seek  the  Gulf  in  company, 


GEORGE  ROGERS  CLARKE.  79 

Up  the  broad  streams  each  to  its  distant  source, 

With  space  for  eighty  millions  of  the  free 

To  dwell  securely  through  all  coming  time. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  heroes  Hiich  as  these 

Receive  the  plaudits  of  their  countrymen 

And  wear  fame's  brightest,  greenest  laurel  wreaths. 

Behold  George  Rogers  Clarke,  fame's  fav'rite  son ! 

Scene :  Savannah,  Ga.,  October  8,  1779.    SATAN,  MARS,  MOLOCH, 
BELIAL. 

Mars.  The  dilatory  tactics  of  these  times 
Fill  lofty  spirits  with  intense  disgust. 
Two  warlike  nations,  mightiest  of  earth, 
Have  been  at  war  for  two  and  twenty  months 
Without  a  battle  worthy  of  the  name. 
Their  mighty  fleets,  though  well-equipped  and  manned, 
Avoid  each  other  with  great  carefulness. 
The  fear  of  storms  excuses  cowardice. 
Howe  left  the  Delaware  and  sought  New  York; 
D'Estaing  sailed  into  Newport,  but  sailed  out 
Without  a  fight  except  with  waves  and  winds; 
Then  sailed  to  Boston  to  repair  his  ships. 
Leaving  the  Yankee  army  without  help, 
T'  escape  from  enemies  as  best  they  could. 
The  cautious  Frenchman  with  his  ships  is  here; 
Six  thousand  fighting  men  obey  his  voice. 
As  many  Carolinians  are  in  arms, 
But  the  slow  movements  of  their  officers 
Forbid  the  expectation  of  success. 
Meanwhile  the  war,  if  war  it  may  be  called, 
Drags  its  slow  movements  wearily  along. 

Moloch.  Mars,  you  should  not  belittle  this  great  war. 
Have  not  the  Butlers  led  the  savages 
To  desolate  Wyoming,  and  destroy 
A  thousand  happy  Pennsylvania  homes  ? 
Have  they  not  given  to  the  greedy  flames 
New  York's  most  peaceful,  prosp'rous  western  towns  ? 
Did  not  the  patriots  retaliate 
By  burning  forty  Indian  villages  ? 


80  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Belial.  Yes,  Mars,  the  torch  performed  most  brilliant 

deeds 

At  Norfolk,  Portsmouth,  and  along  the  shores 
Of  the  broad  Chesapeake.     Connecticut 
Beheld  the  lurid  flames  that  lighted  up 
Norwalk,  Fairfield,  and  other  coast-wise  towns; 
While  cruel  Tryon  gazed  and  rocked  and  laughed. 

Mars.  That  was  not  war.     'Twas  arson,  murder,  theft, 
Barbaric  outrages  on  helplessness. 
For  deeds  like  these  does  Britain's  Parliament 
Vote  twenty  millions  sterling  and  call  out 
Thirty-five  thousand  troops,  and  of  marines 
Eighty-five  thousand  more?     In  olden  times 
My  heathen  heroes  made  no  wars  on  babes. 
Men  armed  for  battle  were  the  foes  they  struck. 

Satan.  But,  Mars,  whatever  hurts  the  human  race 
Gives  satisfaction  to  malicious  hate. 
You  say  that  burning  dwellings  is  not  war; 
That  killing  babes  and  women  is  not  war. 
When  Piggott  was  repulsed  by  Sullivan, 
Losing  three  hundred  of  his  bravest  troops, 
Was  not  that  war  ?     When  Wayne,  at  Stony  Point, 
Conquered  six  hundred  men  and  took  their  stores, 
Destroyed  their  fort  and  bore  its  treasures  off — 
Was  such  a  use  of  bayonets  not  war? 
When  Major  Lee  with  some  militia-men 
Attacked  the  Jersey  City  garrison 
And  saw  two  hundred  of  them  bite  the  dust, 
Was  not  that  war?     Ask  the  whipped  Tories  if 
It  was  not  war  that  Pickens  waged  on  them 
When,  near  Broad  River,  hundreds  of  them  fell. 
What  was  it,  if  not  war,  when  Prevost  and 
His  forces  took  Fort  Sunbury ;  when 
Campbell  took  Augusta  and  Savannah  ? 
What  mean  these  ships,  these  soldiers,  and  marines  ? 
They  all  mean  war,  as  you  shall  soon  admit. 
These  are  not  cowards:  steadily  they  march 
To  storm  the  fort  and  drive  the  British  out 
Or  die  in  the  attempt.     There  is  D'Estaing, 


ATTACK  ON  SAVANNAH.  81 

And  there  Pulaski,  bravest  of  the  Poles. 

See  Lincoln  leads  his  Carolinians  K 

They  vie  with  the  brave  French  in  gallantry. 

There  Sergeant  Jasper  hastens  to  the  front. 

The  flags  of  France  float  proudly  on  the  wall ; 

The  banners  of  the  patr'ts,  too,  are  there. 

But,  see,  the  redcoats  hurl  them  down  in  haste ! 

Pulaski  falls,  and  Jasper,  too,  is  slain; 

D'Estaing  is  wounded ;  Britons  hold  the  fort ! 

Scene :    Bank  of  Hudson  River,  September  24, 1780.    SATAN,  MAM 
MON,  BELIAL. 

Mammon.  What  say  you,  Satan,  to  my  grand 

campaign? 

I  have,  without  a  musket  or  a  man, 
Injured  the  patr'ts  more  than  tongue  can  tell. 
Clinton,  Cornwallis,  Rawdon,  Tarleton,  Howe, 
With  all  their  troops  and  all  their  mighty  fleets, 
Boast  no  achievements  equal  to  my  own. 
I  have  locked  up  the  treasuries  of  States 
Against  the  pressing  needs  of  starving  men, 
Who  battle  bravely  to  protect  their  homes. 
Their  great  commander  pleads,  but  pleads  in  vain: 
The  miserly  and  covetous  have  joined 
To  paralyze  the  armies  he  commands. 
Co-operation  with  the  French  is  vain 
Unless  supplies  enable  troops  to  march 
With  those  brave  allies  'gainst  the  common  foe. 
The  patriot  heroes  can  defy  armed  mert ; 
But  shrink  from  want,  starvation,  nakedness 
Into  the  rav'ning  jaws  of  greedy  graves. 
The  twelfth  of  May  saw  gallant  Charleston  fall, 
Amid  the  thunders  of  two  hundred  guns. 
Gates  lost  a  thousand  men  on  Camden's  field ; 
Four  thousand  more  were  driven  to  their  homes 
By  destitution's  cruel  tyranny. 

Georgia  lies  prostrate  at  Britannia's  feet:  ' 

South  Carolinia  trembles  in  her  chains, 
And  ruin  riots  among  Southern  homes. 
Give  me  due  credit  for  my  wondrous  work. 

Satan.  You  have  my  thanks  for  your  great  usefulness. 
6 


82  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Mammon.  But  more  I  claim  for  labors  at  the  North. 
I've  stirred  the  bravest  troops  to  mutiny ; 
I've  led  to  treason  gifted  officers. 
Arnold  has  sold  himself  for  paltry  gold ; 
Britain  pays  down  to  him  ten  thousand  pounds, 
With  the  commission  of  a  brigadier. 
Suspicion,  scowling,  stalks  through  patriot  camps, 
Driving  before  her  confidence  and  love. 
What  say  you,  comrades,  of  my  great  success? 

Belial.  I  say  'twas  I  led  Arnold  to  sell  out. 
He  has  with  me  been  "  Hail-fellow,  well  met," 
Until  in  morals  bankrupt,  he  is  lost. 
But  there  he  goes  with  Andre  by  his  side. 
They  part;  Andre  comes  nearer.     See  him  now 
Arrested  by  three  men.     He  has  betrayed 
And  overthrown  himself  by  his  mistake. 
He  tries  to  bribe  his  captors,  but  in  vain. 
Yes,  there  are  Paulding,  Williams,  and  Van  Wort, 
Patterns  of  valor  and  fidelity, 
With  Andre,  victim  of  base  Arnold's  guilt. 

Scene :  Eutaw  Springs,  S.  C.,  September  18, 1781.    GABRIEL,  ARIEL. 

Ariel.  I  watch  to-day  o'er  pious  Marion. 
But  what  brings  hither  mighty  Gabriel  ? 
Words  fail  to  tell  how  glad  I  am  to  meet 
The  honored  leader  of  angelic  bands, 
The  trusted  guardian  of  most  prosp'rous  States. 

G-dbriel.  I  watch  the  closing  conflicts  of  the  war. 
Light  breaks  upon  the  suff' ring  colonies. 
'Twill  not  be  long  till  British  troops  retire, 
Leaving  the  blessing  of  self-government 
To  the  brave  heroes  of  America. 
I've  watched  the  struggle  since  it  first  began ; 
With  deep  displeasure  seen  the  cruelties 
Inflicted  by  the  British  on  their  foes. 
Of  late  the  traitor  Arnold  led  the  fiends, 
First  in  Virginia,  then  Connecticut 
Was  made  to  suffer  by  her  recreant  son. 
Last  January  Tarleton  fell  upon 
Morgan's  division  of  the  troops  of  Greene. 


GREENE  AT  EUTAW  SPRINGS.  83 

'Twas  at  the  Cowpens.     Furious  was  the  fight. 

The  cavalry  of  William  Washington 

Was  hurled  at  Tarleton  with  resistless  force. 

Wounded  and  whipped,  he  fled  with  haste  and  speed, 

Leaving  a  hundred  dead  upon  the  field. 

More  than  five  hundred  were  made  prisoners 

With  muskets  and  artillery  and  stores. 

Cornwallis  hastened  to  retrieve  his  loss, 

But  Greene  retreated  with  his  prisoners, 

Crossed  the  Catawba,  Yadkin,  and  the  Dan, 

Saved  by  the  rains  from  fast  pursuing  foes. 

Then,  turning  on  his  track,  recrossed  the  Dan, 

Sent  Light  Horse  Harry  Lee  to  find  and  take 

Three  hundred  Tories  who  would  Tarleton  join. 

At  Guilford  Court-house  Cornwallis  and  Greene 

Fought  fiercely,  but  without  a  victory. 

The  Britons,  loudly  boasting,  marched  away, 

To  practice  arson,  theft,  and  robbery, 

Leaving  Lord  Rawdon  to  contend  with  Greene. 

With  Rawdon  Greene  has  fought  at  Hobkirk's  Hill, 

Torn  from  him  all  the  posts  he  held  but  three. 

His  lordship  went  to  Charleston  recently, 

To  aid  Balfour  in  murd'ring  General  Hayne, 

And  Stewart  leads  the  battle  here  to-day. 

The  fight  begins;  Greene  is  victorious. 

But  see !  some  hungry  troops  have  broken  ranks 

To  feast  themselves  upon  the  spoils  of  war! 

A  fearful  error!     Stewart  now  returns; 

Fighting  begins  again;  Stewart  gains  ground — 

He  holds  the  field.     So  much  for  discipline! 

To-morrow  will  compel  him  to  retreat. 

Less  than  two  months  will  bring  the  patriots 

A  triumph  that  will  lead  to  final  peace. 

See!  there  is  Greene;  there's  Light  Horse  Harry  Lee; 

Yonder  is  Pickens;  Sumtcr  comes  this  way; 

And  here  is  Marion,  soldier  and  saint. 

Scene:  YorJdown,  Va.,  October  19,  1781.    Ships  and  camps  in  fu<J 
view.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ITHUHIEL. 

Michael.  This  is  the  day  we've  long  desired  to  sec. 
All  heaven  is  jubilant,  and  men  rejoice. 


84  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Awe-stricken  hell  hears  all  her  legions  mourn 

And  send  loud  groans  of  anguish  from  her  depths. 

Defeat  adds  weight  to  galling,  dark'ning  chains 

Of  those  to  whom  no  gleam  of  hope  remains; 

No  possibility  of  happiness, 

But  fearful  looking  for  of  fiery  wrath. 

Satan  and  his  dark  hosts  are  vanquished  here, 

Prelusive  of  their  final  vanquishment. 

Ithuriel.  Hero  England's  king  and  all  his  royal  court, 
And  tyranny,  its  lordlings  and  its  tools, 
In  all  the  lands  beneath  the  shining  sun, 
Are  conquered  by  the  people  in  their  might, 
Foreshadowing  triumphant  human  rights 
Wherever  men  shall  live  upon  the  earth. 

Abdiel.  Fraternity  and  fellowship  and  love 
Crown  on  this  spot  the  brotherhood  of  man, 
As  seen  in  Washington  and  Lafayette, 
Uniting  free  America  and  France 
Under  the  loving  fatherhood  of  God, 
Presaging  that  the  family  of  Christ 
Shall  soon  embrace  the  human  family. 

Michael.  Gabriel,  will  you  relate  what  brought  to  pass 
This  wondrous  triumph  of  the  patriots  ? 

Gabriel.  When   France    sent    her   brave    troops    and 

mighty  fleets 

High  hopes  of  speedy  vict'ry  were  indulged; 
But  failure  at  Savannah  and  Newport 
Was  sadd'ning  and  discouraging  to  all. 
While  Washington  planned  campaigns  with  the  French, 
•Arnold,  the  traitor,  sold  himself  for  gold, 
And  bargained  to  deliver  up  West  Point. 
Some  of  the  ragged,  freezing,  starving  troops 
Turned  against  Congress  and  their  officers, 
But  not  against  the  country  that  they  loved; 
For,  when  the  British  would  have  bribed  with  gold, 
They  seized  the  spies  and  gladly  saw  them  hanged. 
When  this  was  told  in  Philadelphia, 
Some  gen'rous  persons  sent,  for  their  relief, 


YOUTHFUL  LAFAYETTE. 


85 


Three  hundred  thousand  dollars  of  their  own. 
More  permanent  provision  for  the  troops 
Was  made  by  a  French  loan  on  liberal  terms. 
Then  the  great  chief  proposed  to  take  New  York, 


LAFAYETTE  AT  YORKTOWN. 


Concerting  with  the  French  about  the  time. 
The  enemy,  informed  of  all  the  plans, 
Made  ready  to  repel  the  allied  troops. 
Just  then  Cornwallis  left  the  farther  south, 


86  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  through  Virginia  led  marauding  bands 

With  arson's  torch  and  plunder's  thieving  hand. 

To  watch  his  movements,  Lafayette  was  sent. 

The  young  French  hero  hung  upon  the  rear 

Of  his  strong  enemy.     His  watchful  eye 

Perceived  the  faulty  tactics  of  his  foe. 

He  hastened  to  entreat  his  willing  chief 

To  march  with  speed  and  capture  Cornwallis. 

While  Washington  marched  southward  with  his  troops, 

Clinton,  deceived,  still  fortified  New  York, 

And  concentrated  neighboring  forces  there. 

He  even  ordered  Cornwallis  to  march 

Down  toward  the  sea,  in  readiness  to  sail 

With  all  his  plunderers,  to  save  New  York. 

Americans  and  French  pursued  with  speed. 

Meanwhile,  French  fleets  drove  off  the  British  ships, 

Entered  York  River,  bringing  troops  and  guns, 

Leaving  the  British  no  way  of  escape. 

The  siege  was  pressed  with  vigor  and  with  skill. 

Such  prodigies  of  valor  were  displayed 

As  men  of  later  times  will  celebrate. 

Young  Hamilton  and  younger  Lafayette 

Inscribed  their  names  high  on  the  roll  of  fame, 

While  older  chiefs  looked  on  admiringly 

As  greenest  laurels  dropped  on  their  own  brows. 

At  last,  when  summer's  suns  and  autumn's  frosts 

Had  tinged  the  forests  with  celestial  dyes, 

And  filled  with  plenty  all  Virginia's  homes, 

And  all  her  pious  hearts  with  gratitude, 

She  sees  her  heroes  reap  upon  her  fields 

A  harvest  of  her  conquered  enemies, 

With  redcoats  gayer  than  her  forest  leaves, 

And  treasures  richer  than  her  soil  could  yield. 

She  sees,  and  songs  of  praise  rise  up  to  God, 

Till  rapturous  devotion,  jubilant, 

Fills  the  whole  universe  with  sounding  praise. 

Lift  up  your  voices,  first-born  sons  of  God ! 

Praise  him  for  liberty  to  Adam's  race ! 

All  the  Angels.  "  We  laud  and  magnify  the  Lord  Most 
High, 


SUBHEADER  AT  YORKTOWN.  67 

Who  was  and  is  tho  source  of  life  and  love, 
Of  earthly  and  of  heavenly  liberty." 

Raphael.  Tell  us  now,  Gabr'el,  what  tho  patr'ts  gain 
By  this  surrender  of  their  enemies  ? 

Gabriel.  Eight  thousand  prisoners  lay  down  their  arms, 
And  give  up  more  than  fivescore  mighty  guns ; 
Surrender  treasure-chests  and  rich  supplies, 
Whether  just  stolen  or  brought  o'er  the  sea; 
But  best  of  all,  they  independence  gain. 
See  there !     O'Hara  leads  the  captives  forth. 

Abdiel.  Where  is  Cornwallis,  that  he  does  not  lead  ? 

Ithuriel.  The  earl  is  meanly  sulking  in  his  tent; 
Humiliation  he's  too  weak  to  face; 
But  there  is  Tarleton,  bold  and  saucy  still, 
There  many  who  deserve  a  better  fate. 
There  go  the  Hessians,  subjects  of  a  prince 
Who  sells  his  subjects  to  get  paltry  gold. 
'Tis  well  for  them  that  they  are  prisoners. 
Here  come  the  conquerors;  they  pass  this  way. 
Behold  the  noble  Frenchman,  Rochambeau ! 
There  is  De  Grasse,  Viominel,  Gouvion, 
Rochfontaine,  DuPortail,  and  many  more; 
And  Lafayette,  the  noblest  of  the  French. 
Behold  the  ragged  heroes  of  the  line ! 
Kings  of  America,  now  crowned  with  joy, 
And  destined  soon  to  see  the  heaven  of  home 
And  be  enthroned  in  happy,  loving  hearts. 
There's  the  militia  of  Virginia, 
Led  on  by  Nelson,  their  brave  Governor. 
To  them  this  is  indeed  the  day  of  days 
That  frees  their  commonwealth  from  plund'ring  foes. 
Still  nearer  to  us  here  are  officers 
Whose  names  belong  to  everlasting  fame. 
There  is  young  Laurens,  there  is  Hamilton, 
There  Lincoln,  Knox,  there  mighty  Washington. 

Michael.  Let  us  depart  for  Philadelphia, 
To  see  how  Congress  will  receive  the  news. 


88  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene:  Chestnut  Street,  Philadelphia,  October  #3,  1781.    Moonlight. 
MICHAEL,  GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ITHURIEL. 

Raphael.  A  messenger  from  Yorktown  has  arrived, 
And  thrills  the  town  with  news  of  victory. 

Abdiel.  The  clock  strikes  ten,  but  joy  drives  sleep  away. 
Hear  the  glad  watchman  who  proclaims  the  hour! 
"  Past  ten  o'clock;  Cornwallis  is  taken." 

Ithuriel.  All  homes  and  hearts  glow  with  intense  delight, 
While  loving  gratitude  gives  praise  to  God. 

Gabriel.  Peace,  independence,  and  prosperity 
Now  seem  to  dance  attendance  on  the  throngs 
That  tell  of  this  grand  triumph  of  their  arms. 

Michael.  To-morrow  Congress  will  be  jubilant, 
And  give  expression  to  a  nation's  joy. 
Let  us  attend  and  join  in  thanks  to  God. 

Scene :  LutJieran  Church,  Philadelphia,  October  24,  1781.  MICHAEL, 
GABRIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL. 

Michael.  To-day  the  Congress  of  America 
Has  crowned  itself  with  glory  and  renown. 
It  honors  God  and  humbly  seeks  his  courts 
To  offer  thanks  and  praise  for  victory 
To  him  who  rules  the  universe  in  love. 

Abdiel.  The  country  under  his  protecting  care, 
Must  prosper  as  no  nation  ever  did. 

Raphael.  While  these  wise,  pious  legislators  come 
To  lay  their  honors  at  their  Saviour's  feet, 
I'll  write  their  names  and  bid  angelic  bands 
Guard  well  their  steps,  and  lead  them  to  the  skies. 

Gabriel.  I  almost  wish  permission  was  obtained 
To  let  them  see  their  guardian-angels  here 
Uniting  with  them  as  they  worship  God. 

Michael.  On  earth  man  must  now  live  by  faith,  not  sight; 
Unclouded  vision  shall  be  his  above. 
Wo  must  to-day  remain  invisible. 
Let  us  depart  and  make  report  on  high. 


EARTH'S  MOST  NOBLE  MAN.  89 

Scene :  Annapolis,  Md.,  December  26,  1783.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL, 
ABDIEL,  ITH URIEL. 

Michael.  Comrades,  our  newborn  nation  now  takes 

rank 
Among  earth's  grandest,  noblest,  mightiest. 

Gabriel.  Eeluctant  Britain,  a  full  year  ago, 
Consented  to  the  freedom  of  her  child. 
September  saw  that  freedom  guaranteed 
By  formal  treaty  between  Holland,  Spain, 
France,  England,  and  these  free  United  States. 

Abdiel.  Peace  reigns.     A  month  ago  King  George 

called  back 

His  fiercest  war-dogs  to  their  kennel  homes. 
No  yelping  cur  of  all  his  pack  is  left 
To  howl  around  the  dwellings  of  the  free. 

Ithuriel.  Heroes  of  independence  seek  their  homes 
To  toil  for  bread  like  other  honest  men. 
The  war-worn  veterans  and  their  great  chief 
With  many  tears  bedewed  the  parting  hour. 
Honor  and  fame  attend  them  as  they  go, 
And  grateful  thousands  gladly  sing  their  praise. 

Gabriel.  Great  Washington  to-day  gives  up  his  sword; 
The  chief  becomes  a  private  citizen. 
Earth  never  witnessed  such  a  scene  before. 
This  uncrowned  hero  wears  such  honors  now 
As  never  king  nor  emperor  might  claim. 
Behold  him  in  his  last  and  greatest  act. 

Michael.  I  see  the  modest  hero  giving  back 
Not  only  the  commission  he  received, 
But  with  it  liberty  and  equal  rights 
For  millions  through  the  ages  yet  to  come; 
A  land  from  foreign  domination  free; 
A  bright  example  of  unselfishness 
Rebuking  tyranny  throughout  the  world ; 
A  human  character  pure  and  complete, 
Time's  greatest  product — earth's  most  noble  man. 


BOOK  FIFTH. 


Scene:  Philadelphia,  August  15,  1787.     The  Federal  Convention  in 
session.    GABRIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ARIEL,  ZEPHON,  ZOPHIEL. 

Gabriel.  Comrades,  this  great  convention  hesitates 
To  give  these  States  a  stronger  government. 
All  efforts  to  agree  have  thus  far  failed ; 
A  perfect  union  is  impossible, 
But  means  must  be  devised  to  pay  old  debts 
And  such  expenses  as  necessity 
Demands  from  such  a  union  of  great  States. 

Ariel.  "Pis  said  that  a  small  tax  of  five  per  cent 
On  tonnage  and  imported  merchandise 
Would  be  sufficient  to  pay  all  just  claims 
Against  the  Union's  empty  treasury; 
But  selfishness  devises  deep-laid  schemes 
By  which  each  section  may  enrich  itself, 
While  making  others  pay  the  Union's  tax. 

Zephon.  Small  States  claim  full  equality  with  large; 
The  large  demand,  for  numbers  and  for  wealth, 
Controlling  power  in  the  new  government. 
The  South  would  count  their  num'rous  slaves  as  men ; 
The  North  would  tax  those  slaves  as  property. 
"Leave  commerce  free,"  says  the  rich,  sunny  South; 
"Tax  foreign  ships,"  says  the  poor,  freezing  North; 
"  Give  us  your  trade;  we  want  your  patronage." 
Three  States  want  slaves  brought  here  from  Africa; 
Others  would  gladly  stop  the  hateful  trade. 

ZopMel.  "State  sovereignty!"  cry  Mason,  Lee.  Yates, 

Ames; 

Wilson  and  King  deny  State  sovereignty. 
Charles  Pincknoy  asks  a  negative  on  laws 
Enacted  by  the  wisdom  of  the  States. 

(90) 


HAMILTON'S  ARISTOCRACY.  91 

To  this  James  Madison  consents,  but  fears, 
As  Mason  dreads  and  Lee  foresees,  taxes 
By  which  the  North  shall  rob  the  South. 

Raphael.  Ames  dreads  consolidation.     Eufus  King 
Opposes  his  New  England  on  that  point; 
He  joins  with  Pinckney,  Wilson,  Hamilton, 
And  Morris  to  demand  strong  government. 
Hamilton  would  have  a  life-long  Senate, 
Their  sons  to  bo  successors  to  themselves; 
A  President  for  life,  to  dominate 
All  Governors  of  States.    These  Governors 


BENJAMIN   FRANKLIN. 

To  have  a  negative  on  all  State  laws. 
He  wants  to  do  away  with  all  the  States, 
And  so  perfect  the  general  government 
That  it  can  work  when  States  shall  disappear. 
The  British  Constitution  he  admires; 
Hereditary  aristocracy 
To  him  seems  necessary  to  success 
In  giving  steadiness  to  governments; 
Hopes  that  an  aristocracy  of  wealth 
Will  save  from  ruin  the  fair  land  ho  loves, 
Nor  let  it  sink  in  ruins  underneath 
The  numbers  of  its  low  democracy. 


92  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Can  such  contrary  views  be  harmonized 

In  one  great  government  for  sovereign  States? 

Gabriel.  Franklin  now  bids  them  all  seek  help  from 

God, 

And  help  will  come  in  this  their  time  of  need. 
By  Sherman  and  by  Ellsworth  reconciled, 
The  smaller  and  the  larger  States  agree 
That  in  the  Senate  they  will  equals  be; 
But  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
Numbers  of  population  shall  control. 
On  Hamilton's  advice,  slaves  shall  be  taxed; 
Their  masters  cast  their  votes  for  three  of  five. 
New  England  wants  protection  for  her  ships 
To  profit  by  transporting  Southern  crops. 
She  also  wants  to  trade  her  rum  for  slaves 
And  reap  rich  harvests  from  old  Afric's  sands. 
Therefore  for  gain  she  will  not  hesitate 
To  contract  in  good  faith  and  honesty 
With  Georgia  and  the  Carolinas  too, 
To  bring  them  all  the  negro  slaves  they  want, 
If  they  will  vote  with  her  for  tonnage  laws, 
By  which  her  ships  tnay  do  the  carrying. 
The  South  will  get  just  what  she  always  had; 
New  England,  wealth  beyond  all  estimate, 
A  golden  harvest  through  all  coming  time. 

Ariel.  The  advocates  of  a  strong  government 
Will  take  all  they  can  get,  and  when  they  can 
Will  give  wealth's  aristocracy  a  chance 
To  fetter  poverty's  democracy. 
As  to  the  friends  of  civil  liberty, 
And  all  the  watchful  guardians  of  State  rights, 
It  will  be  truthfully  and  freely  sworn 
That  they  keep  all  they  do  not  give  away ; 
Yes,  keep  them  wrapped  in  paper  guarantees, 
Till  wealth,  with  shining  fingers,  shall  untie; 
The  sword  cut  up  in  fragmentary  scraps; 
Wild  factions  throw  them  to  the  heedless  winds; 
Fanaticism  give  them  to  her  flames; 
And  despotism  laugh  in  freedom's  face. 


A  CHOICE  OF  EVILS.  93 

Zephon.  Does  God  approve  of  union  by  such  means, 
Of  governments  based  on  duplicity, 
Of  overreaching  and  chicanery 
By  those  who  rule  the  millions  of  mankind? 

Gabriel.  "Tis  not  that  God  approves,  but  man  is  free. 
The  selfishness  of  men  forbids  the  best. 
All  seek  their  own  at  other  men's  expense, 
While  God  says:  "Love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself." 
A  choice  of  evils,  man  obtains  at  last 
A  selfish  union,  rather  than  fierce  wars 
Between  the  millions  of  divided  States. 
So  Franklin  thinks,  and  so  thinks  Washington. 
The  swindling  statesmen  cost  simplicity 
Less  money  than  the  honest  soldiers  cost; 
And  soldiers  are  not  always  honest  men. 
Then  war  brings  arson,  robbery,  and  theft, 
Wounds,  sickness,  homele.ssness,  and  sudden  death, 
With  barbarism  to  enlightened  lands; 
And  widowhood  and  orphanage  and  woe, 
And  hatreds  such  as  Satan  cherishes. 
The  work  of  the  convention  will  be  done, 
The  Constitution  sent  to  all  the  States 
To  bo  rejected  or  bo  ratified. 
A  day's  work  ended,  statesmen  now  take  rest. 
The  weary,  anxious  patriots  pass  this  way. 
See  Franklin,  Washington,  Lee,  Madison, 
Ames,  Gorham,  Pinckney,  Ellsworth,  Hamilton! 

Scene :  Richmond,  Va.,  June  24,  1788.    SATAN. 

Satan.  This  is  the  hour,  this  the  appointed  place 
At  which  my  brave  compeers  attend  my  court. 
This  day's  decision  settles  destiny, 
Determines  boundaries  of  warring  States, 
Or  makes  one  prosperous  nation  of  them  all. 
From  Hudson  River  to  the  Chesapeake, 
The  Constitution  has  been  ratified. 
'Tis  rumored  all  New  England  wears  the  yoke. 
Even  if  this  be  so,  three  warlike  realms 
Remain  to  stain  the  land  with  kindred  blood. 


94  THE  AMEUICAN  EPlU. 

Ehode  Island  and  New  York,  like  a  keen  wedge, 

Cut  through  tho  heart  of  the  North-eastern  States. 

North  Carolina  and  Virginia  stand 

Like  solid  walls  to  fence  out  and  exclude 

The  two  great  States  that  lie  still  farther  south. 

If  I  can  hold  them  so,  then  ceaseless  wars 

Shall  flood  tho  land  with  carnage  and  distress. 

[BAAL,  MOLOCH,  AZAZEL,  MAMMON,  AND  CHEMOSH  approach.'] 

All  hail!  My  worthy,  trusted,  brave  compeers, 
Your  presence  is  most  cheering  here  to-day. 
Baal,  what  say  the  States  you  visited? 

Baal.  They  all  agree.     They  vote  to  ratify. 

Satan.  Moloch,  how  vote  the  States  to  which  you 
went  ? 

Moloch.  They  have  done  likewise.     All  have  ratified. 
Satan.  What  say  you,  Chemosh,  as  to  your  two  States? 

Chemosh.  Rhode  Island  and  New  Yrork  firmly  refuse 
To  join  in  this  new  union  of  the  States. 
But  Jay  and  Hamilton  most  actively 
Persuade  the  people  now  to  ratify, 
Though  they  have  all  the  elements  that  make 
A  prosp'rous,  independent  commonwealth. 

Satan.  "What  of  New  Hampshire?    Tell  us,  Azazel, 
If  she  still  holds  out  independently  ? 

Azazel.  To  tho  new  union  she  at  last  accedes; 
The  Constitution  she  now  ratifies. 

Satan.  Say,  Mammon,  what  of  Massachusetts  now  ? 

Mammon.  I  found  there  much  distrust  of  the  new  plan. 
They  thought  the  smaller  States  had  gained  too  much ; 
Dreaded  consolidation,  claimed  State  rights, 
Feared  fed'ral  usurpation,  and  the  loss 
Of  precious  liberty  by  despotism. 


SOUTH  CAROLINA  RATIFIES.  95 

Taxation  seemed  to  terrify  their  minds. 

They  lauded  pure  religion,  and  professed 

liot  indignation  against  slave-holding. 

Indeed,  so  eloquent  did  they  become, 

So  violent  in  speech,  that  I  did  hope 

They  would  stand  up  to  banish  slavery, 

Thus  bringing  on  incessant,  bloody  wars. 

But  Gorham,  Gore,  King,  Phillips,  Pierce,  and  Ames 

Proved  that  New  England  gained  her  tonnage  laws 

By  contract  with  three  Southern  States  for  slaves. 

'Twas  said  the  treasure  offered  for  the  slaves 

Was  better  for  New  England  than  the  mines 

Of  rich  Peru,  with  all  their  yellow  gold. 

This  golden  argument  would  have  prevailed 

If  all  the  Africans  that  tread  the  earth 

Had  stood  in  clanking  chains  before  their  eyes. 

Hancock's  amendments  were  presented  then 

By  Samuel  Adams,  the  great  patriot; 

They  were  adopted.     The  Constitution 

Then  was  ratified,  and  Massachusetts 

Acceded  to  the  Union  in  due  form. 

Satan.  Azazel,  what  has  Carolina  done  ? 

Azazd.  South  Carolina  first  opposed  the  plan; 
With  proud  disdain  frowned  on  its  tyranny, 
Could  not  intrust  it  with  her  liberty; 
Said  if  she  needs  must  serve,  why  meekly  bow 
Obedient  to  New  England,  rather  than 
Wear  the  yoke  in  service  to  old  Britain. 
Claimed  freedom  from  oppressive  tonnage  laws. 
1  thought  she  would  reject  the  odious  scheme, 
But  Pinckney  told  them  that  the  Middle  States, 
Including  great  Virginia,  had  denied 
The  right  to  import  slaves  in  time  to  come, 
But  generous  New  England  had  agreed 
To  give  them  slaves  for  the  next  twenty  years 
If  they  would  give  the  Fed'ral  government 
An  unrestricted  right  to  tax  at  will 
All  foreign  tonnage  for  their  benefit. 
He  told  them  that  they  gained  the  right  to  vote 


96  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

For  full  three-fifths  of  all  the  slaves  they  owned; 

That  Fed'ral  power  could  never  take  a  slave, 

But,  on  the  contrary,  all  States  were  bound 

To  send  back  fugitives  their  masters  claimed, 

Thus  giving  to  the  masters'  right  in  slaves 

The  guarantee  of  thirteen  sovereignties, 

And  of  the  Federal  government  combined. 

He  told  how  Greene  drove  out  their  British  foes 

And  gave  protection  to  their  families ; 

How,  when  six  States  tried  hard  to  shut  out  slaves, 

New  England's  potent  hand  let  them  come  in. 

This  wakened  gratitude.     She  gave  them  slaves; 

They  gave  the  pow'r  to  tax  the  tonnage  of 

The  foreigner,  and  thus  monopolize 

The  carrying  trade.     The  Constitution 

Then  was  ratified.     South  Carolina 

Acceded  to  the  Union  with  her  slaves. 

Satan.  Then  nine  of  these  disjointed  sovereignties, 
"With  four  between,  will  give  six  boundaries 
On  which  fierce  wars  will  rage  incessantly. 
To-day  Virginia's  fatci'ul  voice  will  speak. 
If  she  accedes,  the  others  will  come  in 
And  make  the  Union  perfectly  complete ; 
But  if  she  does  accede,  she  claims  the  right 
To  secede  when  bold  usurpation  frowns. 
She  claims  for  "  States,"  and  people  of  the  States, 
All  powers  not  granted  and  by  words  conveyed 
To  the  new  government  they  now  create; 
Claims  to  protect  her  rights  and  all  the  rights 
Of  her  posterity  to  latest  times 
By  all  the  strong,  time-tested  muniments 
Of  civil  liberty  and  equity. 
But  despots  laugh  at  law.     Majorities 
Are  most  despotic  despots.     Only  force 
Wielded  by  States  can  shield  from  Fed'ral  force 
The  prey  of  sectional  majorities. 
One-fourth  of  all  the  Governors  of  States, 
Backed  by  their  troops,  might  lay  potential  hands 
On  rampant  tyranny  and  fraudful  greed; 
Might  veto  domineering,  selfish  hate, 


A   TRIBUNATE  OF  STATES. 

And  hold  the  robber  section  from  its  prey 
Until  a  grave  convention  of  the  States 
Shall,  by  a  three-fourths  vote,  give  legal  force 
To  the  obnoxious  measure  in  dispute, 
Or  grant  relief  to  the  oppressed  by  law. 
Virginia'll  get  whatever  she  demands, 


97 


PATRICK   HENRY. 

If  she  secures  this  mighty  tribunate 
A  fourth  to  veto,  till  three-fourths  confirm, 
Our  bloody  schemes  fail  of  accomplishment. 
Such  che'ck  on  selfishness  held  by  the  States 
Would  counteract  all  swindling,  fraud ful  schemes, 
And  take  from  demagogues  disunion's  plea. 
7 


98  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

It  would  perpetuate  to  latest  times 
The  peaceful  union  of  this  happy  land. 
We  must  prevent  the  union  if  we  can; 
If  not,  then  see  that  its  defects  provide 
Grounds  for  our  triumphs  in  the  days  to  come. 
Comrades,  await  me  here,  while  I  look  in 
On  these  wise  Solons  of  the  wilderness. 

He  goes.    He  returns. 

How  greedily  they  swallow  Henry's  words! 

With  what  complete  control  he  sways  these  men  ! 

Not  Cicero,  nor  great  Demosthenes, 

Nor  modern  Chatham  e'er  possessed  such  power 

As  this  great  backwoods  sage  and  orator. 

Like  one  inspired,  the  rustic  statesman  talks. 

He  tells  the  horrors  of  their  coming  fate 

In  such  strong  language  that  they  seem  to  see 

Angels  bemoaning  their  sad  destiny. 

[Aside.']  I'll  make  the  talker  a  true  prophet  yet, 
AH  later  generations  shall  confess. 
Yet,  'twill  not  do  to  longer  let  him  speak, 
Or  he  may  tell  of  means  t'avert  their  doom. 
But  how  to  stop  the  torrent  of  his  words, 
Or  quench  the  lightning  of  his  countenance, 
I  find  not —    Yes,  his  voice  shall  not  be  heard; 
Am  I  not  prince  of  all  the  pow'rs  of  air? 
Will  not  the  winds  come  swiftly  at  my  call? 
I'll  raise  a  storm  to  shake  the  solid  earth; 
The  frowning  concave  rend  with  fiery  bolts; 
All  elemental  forces  shall  be  stirred 
To  threaten  men  with  instantaneous  death. 
Ha,  ha !     Ha,  ha  !     They  flee  as  shrinking  from 
The  wrath  of  the  divine  Omnipotent. 
Howl  on  !  howl  on  !  destructive  elements, 
While,  in  my  fiendish  glee,  I  gloat  upon 
The  ruin  and  destruction  I  have  wrought. 

GABRIEL  and  other  holy  angels  arrive. 
Gabriel.  Satan,  why  this  alarming,  dreadful  storm  ? 


SATAN'S  DESTRUCTIVE  STORM.  99 

Satan.  Gabriel,  I'm  free.     Your  meddling  insolence 
Deserves  no  other  answer.     I  do  not 
Move  at  any  master's  word.     I  will  it. 
You  poor  watch-dogs  of  creation  slip  your 
Gilt  collars,  leave  your  locked  kennels, 
And  come  out  to  yelp  at  your  superiors. 

Gabriel.  Call  off  those  fearful  winds  from  their  wild 

work. 

This  moment  let  the  dreadful  tempest  cease; 
Then,  if  you  will,  rail  on  with  idle  breath — 
Yes,  in  an  instant  hush  the  thunder's  voice, 
Or  i'eel  the  horrors  of  the  wrath  to  come. 

The  fiends  retire,  the  storm  cease*. 

Resistless  force  o'erawes  the  universe. 
Creation's  subject  to  Omnipotence, 
Infinite  wisdom  rules  with  perfect  love. 
Within  encircling  wisdom,  love,  and  power 
Is  ample  scope  for  largest  liberty 
In  all  the  hosts  of  angels,  men,  and  fiends. 
Here  all  things  work  together  for  the  good 
Of  loving,  trusting  children  of  the  Lord. 
But  wretches  who  will  never  yield  to  love, 
Must  feel  the  force  of  a  resistless  pow'r 
For  the  protection  of  the  universe. 
Comrades,  depart.     Go  each  to  his  great  work. 
I  go  to  mine  rejoicing  in  the  Lord. 

Scone:  Eminence  commanding  a  view  of  New  York,  April  24, 1789. 
SATAX,  MARS,  BAAL,  MOLOCH.  They  all  bow  low  to  SATAN  ex 
cept  MARS. 

Mars.  Hail!  mighty  chief!     At  thy  command  we 

come, 

Faithful  to  thee  with  all  allegiance  due, 
To  execute  thy  grand  destructive  plans. 
We  have  left  naught  undone  that  could  be  done. 
These  hateful  States,  resisting  all  our  arts, 
Accede  to  the  new  union.     They  promise 
In  their  government  protection  such  as 
The  sons  of  men  have  never  known  before. 


100  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Hatreds  of  ages  still  inspire  our  zeal, 
The  centuries  march  on  with  stately  steps, 
But  to  give  time  for  sleepless  vigilance 
To  work  the  ruin  of  man's  hateful  race. 

Satan.  Comrades,  ten  thousand  thanks  for  your  past 

zeal, 

Your  perseverance,  and  your  fortitude. 
With  us,  defeats  pave  paths  to  victory. 
Though  conquered  often,  we  are  ne'er  subdued. 

Mars.  But  latterly  your  wisest  plans  all  fail. 
These  times  of  peace  show  little  of  your  pow'r. 
Next  week  a  quiet,  prosp'rous  time  begins, 
With  warrior  chiefs  reclined  on  easy-chairs. 

Satan.  Be  patient,  Mars ;  hear  what  I  have  to  say. 
These  Western  gales  of  peace  and  liberty 
Shall  scatter  dragon's  teeth  in  Europe's  soil, 
Aivl  from  that  plenteous  planting  shall  spring  forth 
Millions  of  armed  men  to  stain  with  blood 
The  verdure  of  a  thousand  battle-fields, 
And  devastate  a  hundred  thousand  homes, 
Filling  the  world  with  anguish  and  despair. 
The  French  are  getting  ready  for  the  fray 
In  which  half  of  a  world  will  be  at  strife. 
That  conflict  shall  convulse  most  mighty  realms, 
Pull  down  earth's  grandest  thrones  and  dynasties, 
And  raise  up  heroes  whose  astounding  deeds 
Shall  overshadow  Alexander's  fame. 

But  what  if  I  should  now  predict  fierce  wars 

Between  descendants  of  Americans  ? 

What  if,  in  less  than  fourscore  fleeting  years, 

With  more  than  fiend-like  fury  these  great  States 

Fly  at  each  other,  and,  in  reckless  rage, 

Forgetful  of  the  compacts  of  their  sires, 

Tread  in  the  dust  their  blood-bought  liberties, 

Claiming  despotic  pow'r  for  States  o'er  States, 

And  over  all  their  subject  citizens! 

Then  hear  me  now.     I  promise  more  than  this. 

In  less  than  fourscore  years  millions  of  men 


SECTIONAL  HATRED  PREDICTED.  101 

Armed  and  embattled,  shall  tread  down  State  rights, 

Slay  civil  liberty,  trample  on  law, 

Outrage  humanity,  and  to  the  sick 

Deny  through  dreary  years  the  privilege 

Of  buying  medicines  to  heal  disease. 

The  thick  green  venom  of  the  sections'  hate 

Shall  turn  to  gall  the  sympathies  of  saints, 

And  give  them  an  intense  desire  to  kill. 

When  devastation  shall  have  done  his  work, 

And  marked  his  steps  by  ruins,  ashes,  graves, 

Hatred  shall  send  the  basest  of  his  slaves 

To  rule,  to  ruin,  and  degrade  the  land. 

Mars.  Father  of  lies,  this  seems  impossible. 
I  doubt  your  pow'r,  deny  your  truthfulness. 
AH  lies  of  all  the  ages  become  dwarfed 
By  this  false  promise  of  false  Lucifer. 
Peace  holds  the  reins  under  this  government. 
How,  then,  can  rampant  war  go  forth  to  fight  ? 

Satan.  Am  I  to  be  insulted  to  my  face  ? 
I  reign.     Nor  shall  Olympian  Jupiter, 
Backed  by  his  num'rous  family  of  gods, 
Presume  to  cast  contempt  upon  my  throne. 
Another  word  and  the  proud  god  of  war 
By  clanking  fetters  shall  be  here  disgraced. 
To  you,  intrusive  wretch,  I  answer  not. 
I  shall  not  deign  to  you  another  word. 
To  these  adherents  of  my  sovereign  throne 
I  owe  the  revelation  of  my  plans. 
Know,  then,  that  this  new  union  of  the  States 
Has  faulty  parts,  weak  and  defective  links, 
Imperfect  joints  that  grate  discordantly. 
Man's  work  is  tested  by  the  touch  of  t:me, 
And  by  my  scheming  for  its  overthrow. 
Each  State  is  now  a  nation  in  itself: 
The  smallest  would  not  yield  its  sovereignty ; 
But  only  certain  pow'rs  expressly  named, 
Most  carefully  retaining  all  the  rest; 
They  would  not  give  their  work  a  nation's  name. 
Yet  these  united  sovereignties  create 


102  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

A  fed'ral  sovereign  stronger  than  themselves. 

They  put  into  its  hands  both  purse  and  sword, 

Then  try  to  bind  the  giant  with  mere  words. 

Divided  sovereignty — Fed'ral  and  State, 

Moved  by  the  hatreds  that  the  sections  feel, 

With  clashing  interests  shall  meet  force  with  force, 

In  such  malignant,  bloody,  cruel  wars 

As  nations  all  shall  stand  aghast  to  see. 

Relentless  hate  of  sections  shall  send  forth 

The  well-armed  millions  of  a  continent 

In  deadly  strife.     Fathers  shall  slay  their  sons; 

Sous  strike  down  gray-haired  sires;  mothers  shall  see 

Their  cherished  sons  go  forth  as  enemies, 

Each  to  destroy  his  brother  in  the  strife. 

To  test  my  strategy  I  now  predict 

That  upstart  insolence  in  seats  of  power 

Will  stigmatize  as  traitors  infamous 

Virginia's  bravest,  noblest,  purest  sons, 

For  daring  to  obey  Virginia's  laws, 

On  her  own  soil,  defending  her  chaste  homes. 

Nay,  more,  fanatic  faction  in  its  rage 

Will  give  its  highest  honors  to  the  men 

Who  copy  the  vile  conduct  of  Dunmore, 

Cornwallis,  Tarlcton,  Arnold,  and  the  rest 

In  giving  her  possessions  to  the  flames, 

All  in  the  name  of  faithful  loyalty. 

What  say  you,  comrades,  will  that  satisfy? 

Baal.  It  will,  it  will.     I'm  fully  satisfied. 
Moloch.  I  too  am  more  than  fully  satisfied. 
Baal.  Satan,  you  may  expect  my  hearty  help. 
Moloch.  I  too  will  help  to  bring  these  things  to  pass. 

Satan.  My  trusty  comrades,  take  my  hearty  thanks, 
And  share  the  glory  of  my  great  success. 
In  you  I  see  unyielding  confidence, 
Defiant  boldness,  dreading  no  defeat, 
Over  all  foes  expecting  victory. 
In  ev'ry  contest  men  must  yield  to  us! 
Did  we  not  drive  out  of  their  paradise 


SATAN  S  ANCIENT  TRIUMPHS. 

Adam  and  Eve,  parents  of  all  the  race  ? 
Did  we  not  lead  the  first  of  woman  born 
To  slay  his  brother  at  the  shrine  of  G-od? 
Antediluvians  became  our  prey, 
Till  God  repented  that  he  had  made  man, 
And  gave  those  bold  transgressors  to  the  flood. 


103 


GEORGE  WASHINGTON. 


The  heirs  of  Noah  soon  became  our  slaves, 
And  when  to  mighty  nations  they  had  grown, 
We  led  them  to  destroy  themselves  by  sin. 
For  ages  we  have  walked  amid  the  gloom 
Where  once  in  grandeur  mighty  nations  stood. 


104  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Tyre,  Carthago,  Thebes,  Palmyra,  Babylon 

Like  morning  dreams  have  passed  and  ceased  to  be. 

Jerusalem,  Damascus,  mighty  Home 

Seem  shadows  of  their  own  magnificence. 

We  shall  live  on  through  all  earth's  centuries, 

And  in  the  vigor  of  our  youth  shall  see 

This  newest  of  the  nations  share  their  fate.. 

Scene:  Broadway,  New  York,  April  SO,  1789.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL. 

Michael.  1  bring  congratulations  from  the  skies 
On  the  successful  issue  of  our  plans. 
Our  youthful  nation  crowns  itself  to-day 
With  governmental  glory  such  as  earth 
Through  all  her  centuries  has  never  seen. 

Gabriel.  I  thank  you  for  your  plaudits,  worthy  prince. 
Great  Washington  comes  at  his  country's  cull 
To  rule  her  factions  or  to  tight  her  foes; 
While  Jefferson,  Knox,  Randolph,  Hamilton 
Will  give  wise  counsels  to  their  honored  chief. 
John  Adams  in  the  Senate  will  preside, 
Ready  to  fill  a  more  important  place, 
And  Jay  judge  wisely  in  the  highest  court. 
But  see!     They  come,  and  with  them  Livingston, 
New  York's  great  chancellor.     The  book  of  God 
There  gives  validity  to  the  great  oath 
Which  Livingston  administers  in  form, 
And  Washington  so  solemnly  assumes. 
Imperial  diadem  or  royal  crown 
Could  add  no  dignity  to  that  great  man 
Assuming  obligations  here  to-day. 
The  thund'ring  cannon  makes  the  welkin  ring, 
The  people  cheer,  the  hosts  of  heaven  rejoice, 
And  the  great  God  looks  on  approvingly. 

Scene:  State-house  yard,  Philadelphia,  October,  1791.    SATAN,  MO 
LOCH,  BELIAL,  MAMMON. 

Satan.  Once  more  of  our  achievements  we  may  speak, 
And  tell  of  our  great  vict'ries  over  men. 

Moloch.  I  have  been  stirring  France  to  deeds  of  blood 
That  soon  shall  startle  and  amaze  mankind. 


STlilFES  OF  STATESMEN.  105 

Edlal.  And  I  have  helped  the  savages  to  slay 
The  troops  of  Harmar,  Hardin,  and  St.  Clair, 
Beyond  Ohio's  stream  in  Western  wilds. 

Mammon.  My  work  has  been  with  those  who  death 

distill 

In  Massachusetts  and  among  the  hills 
Of  Pennsylvania,  on  her  sparkling  streams. 
My  rum  and  whisky  clients  hate  all  laws, 
Regard  not  man,  nor  do  they  honor  God ; 
But  Light  Horse  Harry  Lee  with  Fed'ral  troops 
Compelled  the  whisky  boys  t'  obey  the  law. 

Satan.  I  have  stirred  strife  to  trouble  Washington. 
'Twas  natural  that  soldiers  should  demand 
A  vig'rous  government  to  raise  supplies 
Which  cautious  statesmen  might  be  slow  to  yield. 
So  Hamilton  most  honestly  desired 
More  pow'r  for  Fed'ral  hai.'ds  than  States  would  grant. 
I  tempt  him  now  to  seize  the  pow'rs  he  wants, 
And  claim  that  though  not  granted,  they're  implied, 
Or  else  necessitated  by  the  force 
Of  public  policy  or  dire  distress. 
So  he  creates  a  bank  —assumes  State  debts 
Held  by  the  thrifty  North.     By  tonnage  laws 
And  tariffs  robs  the  South,  and  in  the  North 
Builds  the  rich  aristocracy  he  wants 
To  make  a  strong  and  stable  government, 
According  to  his  fav'rite  theory. 
Happ'ly  for  my  success,  great  Jefferson 
Is  Southern  born  and  of  the  planter  class. 
By  the  great  Declaration  which  he  wrote, 
Pledged  to  the  common  people  of  the  land, 
Friend  of  State  rights  and  human  liberty. 
Already  factions  gather  round  these  men, 
And  vex  the  righteous  soul  of  Washington. 
Through  many  generations  I  will  make 
Their  names  the  rallying  cries  of  North  and  South, 
Of  speculators  or  of  laborers, 
Of  State  rights  or  of  strong,  rash  government, 
Till  Fod'ral  force  strikes  down  resisting  States, 


106  IHE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  bloated  wealth  strides  proudly  o'er  the  poor. 
I  hope  to  bring  the  strifes  of  Europe  here, 
With  a  French  party  claiming  Jefferson, 
And  England's  friends  supporting  Hamilton. 
What  say  you  to  the  working  of  my  plans? 

All.  Go  on  !  go  on  !     You  have  our  hearty  help. 
Scene:  Boston  Common,  July,  1792.    RAPHAEL,  ABDIEI,. 

Abdiel.  Servant  of  God  and  guardian  of  mankind, 
What  loving  deed  has  brought  you  hero  to-day  ? 

Raphael.  See  you  those  horsemen  ?     I  attend  on 

them. 
They  go  to  Lynn  on  business  of  our  king. 

Abdiel.  Whence  come  they  ?     On  what  business  do 
they  come  ? 

Raphael.  Sons  of  the  South.     New  England  needs 

them  now. 

With  loving  hearts  they  come  to  bring  relief. 
Their  fathers  sent  to  Boston  rich  supplies 
When  Britain  would  have  starved  her  citizens, 
Then  came  with  Washington  to  fight  her  foes, 
And  drive  the  haughty  Britons  from  her  shores. 
So  these  most  gen'rous,  loving  Southerners 
Bring  to  New  England  richer,  costlier  gifts, 
And  bolder  heroes  to  fight  fiercer  foes. 
There's  Jesse  Lee,  Virginia's  noble  son; 
He  is  the  leader  of  this  gallant  band. 
There's  John,  his  brother,  victim  of  disease, 
Who  soon  shall  gain  his  crown  of  victory. 
From  Maryland  comes  Freeborn  Garretson 
And  brave  George  Eoberts.     From  Delaware  see 
Bold  Nathaniel  Mills.     From  distant  Georgia 
Eloquent  Hope  Hull,  and  by  his  side  is 
Bishop  Asbury,  with  Smith  and  Allen. 
These  men  of  God  bring  simple  gospel  truth 
To  vanquish  errors  which  blight  Churches  here. 
Sons  of  the  Plymouth  pilgrims  leave  the  faith 


FLEEING   FROM  CALViy's  DECREES.  107 

Of  their  renowned  forefathers,  and  take  up 
The  cast-off  heresies  of  other  lands, 
Deny  divinity  to  Jesus  Christ, 
Say  that  redemption  came  not  by  his  blood; 
Deny  that  God,  the  Holy  Spirit,  works 
In  quick'ning,  cleansing,  sanctifying  men; 
Claim  holiness  by  nature,  not  by  grace; 
Expect  salvation  by  their  own  good  works, 
Or  claim  for  scoffing  men  a  home  in  heaven, 
With  naught  of  penitence  or  prayer  or  faith; 
Would  place  Confucius  by  the  side  of  Christ, 
And  think  they  stretch  their  charity  to  hope 
That  through  the  coming  ages  Christ  may  riso 
To  the  high  level  of  a  Boston  sage. 

Abdiel.  Say,  Raphael,  how  did  educated  men 
Such  transcendental  nonsense  here  embrace  ? 

Raphael.  Their  fathers  taught  that  God  had  fore-or 
dained 

Whatever  comes  to  pass  throughout  all  time, 
And  yet  is  not  the  author  of  a  sin; 
That  God  is  love,  and  yet  sends  babes  to  hell; 
That  one  cannot  be  added  to  the  saved, 
Nor  one  diminished  from  the  Lord's  elect, 
Yet  men  are  blamed  for  failing  to  be  saved. 
These  contradictions  trouble  not  the  Scotch, 
But  Yankee  brains  ask:  "  How  can  these  things  be?" 
Disdainfully  they  throw  away  the  creed     ^ 
Of  their  forefathers  taught  by  Augustine; 
Its  truthful  parts  despise  more  than  the  false; 
Then  boasting  of  their  learning  and  their  wit, 
Their  fancied  wisdom  makes  them  Satan's  dupes. 
Of  course  the  same  gross  errors  suit  not  all, 
Nor  yet  the  same  wise  persons  all  the  time; 
Nor  do  they  all  cease  to  be  Puritans, 
But  they  are  so  stampeded  by  affright 
At  Calvin's  errors,  they'll  take  any  thing 
To  get  away  from  the  divine  decrees. 
Socinus,  Arius,  or  Pelagius, 
The  pope,  Confucius,  Brahma,  or  Buddha, 


108 


THE  AMERICAS  EPIC. 


From  Calvinism  seem  to  be  relief. 
But  from  the  South  comes  help  in  time  of  need. 
New  England's  altar  fires  shall  blaze  again, 
Lit  by  the  torch  of  truth  in  Southern  hands. 
Sons  of  the  Puritans  shall  hail  with  joy 
The  coming  of  these  gospel  cavaliers. 
Men  call  them  Methodists.     Two  years  ago 
Lee  left  his  Southern  home  and  hither  came. 


MARTHA   WASHINGTON. 

A  thousand  converts  welcome  them  to-day, 
And  aid  them  in  their  efforts  to  do  good. 
Last  week  reluctant  Boston  warmed  with  love 
And  organized  a  zealous,  holy  Church. 
Ten  thousand  such  shall  soon  illume  this  land 
With  pure  religion's  brightest,  hallowed  flames, 
And  send  to  distant  nations  light  and  love 
For  those  who  grope  in  darkness  and  distress. 


ENGLISH  AND  FRENCH  FACTIONS.  109 

Scene :  Philadelphia,  June  10, 179  J.    BAAL,  MARS,  SATAX,  MAMMO.V. 

Baal.  What  say  you,  Mars,  to  Satan's  schemes  and 

plans, 
Since  you  have  seen  how  perfectly  they  work? 

Mars.  Let  him  go  on.     His  tactics  I  admire. 
I  gladly  follow  his  bold  leadership. 
I  now  retract  my  disrespectful  words. 
Europe  will  fight  for  the  next  twenty  years, 
And  I  shall  revel  amid  bloody  wars. 

Satan.  And  these  young  lambs  shall  bo  old  Europe's 

prey, 

Devoured  among  her  greedy,  hungry  wolves, 
Unless  the  heav'nly  pow'rs  aid  Washington. 
Already  Jefferson  and  Hamilton 
Have  left  the  cabinet  for  private  life; 
The  people  are  for  Britain  or  for  France, 
And  ready  to  take  arms  on  either  side. 
The  sword  of  Washington  and  his  groat  name 
Disarm  the  factious,  make  them  live  in  peace. 
But  recently,  with  Mammon's  ready  aid, 
I  held  the  chief  helpless  between  two  fires. 
France  sent  her  minister  demanding  help 
Against  the  hateful  foes  of  liberty. 
Yes,  France,  the  gen'rous  friend  of  other  days, 
Roused  the  rash  people  'gainst  their  government, 
While  Britain,  with  piratical  intent, 
Seized  Yankee  ships  wherever  they  were  found, 
And  sent  the  barb'rous  Indians  to  destroy 
The  helpless  families  of  the  far  West. 
I  thought  the  people  then  would  fly  to  arms, 
But  Washington  soon  had  Genet  recalled 
Back  to  his  own  rash  country,  warlike  France. 
To  Britain  Jay  was  sent  with  peaceful  words. 
The  treaty  that  he  made  was  hailed  with  scorn, 
Was  burned  by  mobs,  assailed  by  orators, 
Who  said  their  country  Bad  been  basely  sold. 
But,  Mammon,  you  had  much  to  do  with  that. 
Please  give  the  details  that  so  hateful  seem. 


110  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Mammon.  Jay  was  most  patriotic,  but  was  met 
By  haughty,  selfish  Britons,  backed  by  force 
His  youthful  country  could  not  well  resist. 
They  proposed  to  move  their  soldiers  from  the 
Western  forts,  where  Indians  had  been  armed 
To  slaughter  babes;  to  leave  the  frontiersmen 
Of  that  wild  region;  the  enlarging  trade; 
To  cease  their  depredations  on  the  seas, 
And  pay  for  ships  and  cargoes  they  had  seized. 
But  they  refused  to  pay  for  stolen  slaves, 
As  in  the  former  treaty  was  agreed ; 
Demanded  that  old  debts  should  all  be  paid 
By  those  who  had  obtained  the  merchandise. 
'Twas  my  fine  hand  that  brought  all  this  to  pass. 
When  the  great  waf  began,  I  told  the  men 
That  war  had  settled  all  of  their  old  debts. 
When  peace  returned,  the  Fed'ral  government 
Agreed  to  the  collection  of  those  debts; 
But  I  then  told  the  patriots  to  demand 
Exemption  from  those  antiquated  claims; 
Then  told  the  British  not  to  pay  for  slaves, 
Nor  yet  surrender  up  the  frontier  forts, 
Until  the  patriots  paid  up  their  debts. 
The  treaty  made  by  Jay,  an  Eastern  man, 
Paid  Eastern  men  for  stolen  ships  and  goods, 
But  confiscated  stolen  Southern  slaves, 
Because  old  debtors  died  or  failed  to  pay. 
What  maddens  the  Americans  seems  clear: 
Wayne  whipped  the  Indians  and  had  peace  enforced 
In  spite  of  British  fraud  and  cruelty: 
So,  giving  up  the  forts  she  nothing  gave. 
Why,  then,  should  Jay  relinquish  claims  for  slaves? 
Why  raise  again  the  question  of  old  debts, 
And  fill  the  land  with  most  vexatious  suits  ? 
It  makes  men  doubly  desperate  to  fail 
In  their  endeavors  to  shake  off  just  debts, 
But  so  I'll  tempt  them  to  the  end  of  time. 

Satan,  this  trouble  is  not  ended  yet. 

• 

Satan.  Nor  shall  it  end  till,  roaring  for  more  prey, 
The  British  lion  treads  these  shores  again. 


LOUISIANA  PURCHASED.  Ill 

Scene:   Washington  City,  June  1,  1803.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL. 

Michael.  I  hail  yoiL,  happy  Gabriel !     News  arrives 
At  this  new  seat  of  empire  that  the  French 
Have  sold  this  young  republic  vast  domains 
Extending  broadly  westward  to  the  shores 
Washed  by  Pacific's  peaceful,  gentle  waves. 
The  States  thus  gain  more  than  a  million  of 
Square  miles  of  land,  with  mighty  rivers  on 
Their  rapid  way  to  the  vast  oceans  of 
The  East  and  West.     This  to  the  frontier  men 
Gives  free  access  to  all  the  whole  round  world, 
Without  leave  asked  of  Britain,  France,  or  Spain; 
With  liberal  hand  throws  wide  trade's  golden  gates, 
And  welcomes  the  rich  commerce  of  a  world ; 
Invites  prosperity  with  wide-spread  sails 
To  enter  at  ten  thousand  open  ports. 

Gabriel.  Yes,  Michael,  but  the  half  has  not  been  told 
Of  God's  great  goodness  to  this  favored  land. 
The  Indians,  whipped  by  Wayne,  have  peaceful  grown; 
Jay's  treaty  with  the  British,  though  unjust, 
Caused  peace  to  smile  where  war  had  madly  frowned; 
The  whisky  fiends  of  Pennsylvania 
Submitted  to  the  troops  of  Harry  Lee, 
Proving  the  majesty  of  fed'ral  law; 
Factions  were  awed  by  mighty  Washington; 
The  States  kept  free  from  foreign  dominance; 
When  France  in  robber  tones  demanded  gifts, 
Pinckney  with  stately  dignity  replied, 
"  We've  millions  for  defense,  but  not  a  cent 
For  tribute  to  the  strongest  of  our  foes," 
And  the  brave  States  in  thunder  tones  rolled  back 
The  patriot  statesman's  grand,  defiant  words. 
When  war  came  threat'ningly  from  angry  France, 
The  people  rallied  in  their  own  defense, 
And  called  on  Washington  to  lead  their  troops. 
The  waves  were  witnesses  of  French  defeats. 
The  robber  ships,  some  captured,  some  destroyed, 
Found  foemen  who  could  humble  all  their  pride. 
Then  Frenchmen  changed  their  rulers,  and  again 
Peace  wound  her  chain  of  love  around  old  friends. 


nil 
(112) 


JEFFERSON  AND  JOHN  MARSHALL.  113 

This  strengthened  the  new  government  abroad, 
And  gave  the  people  confidence  at  home. 
It  had  been  feared  when  Washington  must  go, 
The  orphaned  Union  would  then  sadly  pine. 
But  the  great  man  retired  to  private  life ; 
The  States  lived  on.     He  died;  they  flourished  still. 
'Twas  feared  that  conflicts  at  election  times 
Would  bring  on  anarchy  and  bloody  strife. 
Administrations  changed;  no  blood  was  shed. 
Then  selfish  faction  tempted  Aaron  Burr 
To  let  it  steal  for  him  the  highest  place; ' 
And  Burr  was  willing,  while  for  days  they  tried 
To  take  the  presidency  and  its  power 
From  Jefferson,  the  people's  chosen  chief. 
But  honest  Bayard  checked  the  villainy; 
Against  his  party,  let  the  right  prevail. 
'Twas  well  the  government  should  stand  the  test, 
And  triumph  over  faction's  cunning  fraud. 
It  throttled  usurpation  and  struck  down 
The  tyranny  that  followed  forms  of  law, 
When  even  patriots  in  authority 
Enacted  and  enforced  despotic  laws 
Against  the  Constitution  and  the  right. 
'Twas  proper  that  the  ballots  of  the  free 
Should,  under  avalanches  of  contempt, 
Bury  those  patriot  tyrants  of  the  land 
In  cold  oblivion.     Then  repeal  their  acts, 
And  let  the  hangman  burn  the  hateful  words. 
The  alien  and  sedition  laws  are  dead. 
The  party  that  enacted  them  will  die. 
Burr's  name  is  hateful.     Jefferson  is  still 
The  guardian  of  State  rights,  and  freedom's  friend, 
He  rules  in  righteousness.     Authority 
Not  granted  by  the  States  he  will  not  wield. 
Even  the  treaty  by  which  he  secures 
Louisiana  to  the  land  he  loves 
He  would  submit  to  the  approval  of 
The  sev'ral  States.     Happy  the  land  with  such 
A  ruler  blessed  !     Thrice  happy  in  the  judge 
That  fills  the  place  of  highest  honor  in 
Its  highest  court !     John  Marshall  is  his  name. 
8 


114  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Justice  personified  in  him  is  seen. 

Marshall  and  Jefferson,  Virginia's  sons, 

Shall  through  the  coming  ages  bless  mankind, 

And  by  the  might  of  their  illustrious  names 

Cause  terror-stricken  tyranny  to  quail, 

And  usurpation  drop  its  mask  of  smiles; 

While  fraud,  corruption,  legal  villainy, 

Shall  trembling  drop  their  base,  dishonest  gains. 

But  see!     The  great  Chief-justice  comes  this  way, 

And  by  his  side  the  greater  President: 

They  pass  in  modest  majesty  sublime, 

Without  a  thread  of  such  pretentious  garb 

As  little  greatness  still  delights  to  wear. 

The  honor  that  enshrines  these  noble  men 

Might  waken  envy  in  archangels'  breasts, 

If  angels'  breasts  could  envy  entertain. 

Michael.  You  grow  enthusiastic  in  their  praise; 
I  join  you  in  admiring  their  renown, 
Their  unpretentious,  simple,  lofty  aims. 
But  I  have  marveled  much  at  the  great  growth 
Of  these  United  States  in  worldly  wealth. 
The  fruitful  soil  exhaustless  riches  yields, 
And  fills  the  land  with  plenty  and  with  joy. 
Tho  mines  surrender  their  long  hidden  stores, 
The  forests  wave  a  welcome  to  the  men 
That  turn  their  lofty  grandeur  into  gold. 
Waves  bear  the  white-winged  wund'rers  of  the  deep 
From  ev'ry  land  with  tribute  to  these  shores, 
While  population  multiplies  and  spreads, 
Still  doubling  its  possessions  year  by  year. 
New  settlements,  blooming  and  beautiful, 
Spring  forth  to  join  the  sisterhood  of  States. 
Vermont  from  her  green  hills  came  smiling  down; 
Kentucky,  Tennessee,  and  Ohio, 
Baptized  with  blood,  march  grandly,  sword  in  hand, 
To  their  high  places  in  the  stately  band. 
No  other  nation  ever  prospered  so. 
Mankind,  astonished,  wonder  and  admire. 
Angels  exult  to  pee  such  blessedness, 
And  God  himself  smiles  on  the  blissful  scene. 
Let  us  away  where  other  duties  call. 


BOOK  SIXTH. 


Scene :  Tippecanoe,  in  the  woods  of  Indiana,  November  8, 1S11.    SA 
TAN,  MAKS,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Mars.  Ha,  ha!  ha,  ha  !     What  is  it  we  have  here? 
'Tis  war,  but  war  not  worthy  of  the  name. 
Napoleon's  campaigns,  Wellington's  great  fights, 
Russia's  rude  millions,  Prussia's  well-drilled  ranks, 
Might  claim  applause  from  Jupiter  himself; 
But  these  frontiersmen  and  their  Indian  foes 
May  all  be  left  to  Belial  and  his  fools. 

Belial.  Take  back  your  insult !     But  for  knaves  and 

fools 
Your  world-wide  wars  could  never  be  commenced. 

.  Mars.  True,  Belial.     I  retract  the  insulting  words. 
I  recognize  the  value  of  your  work. 

Satan.  Yes,  fill  the  world  with  sober,  upright  men, 
And  peace  would  plant  her  olives  in  all  lands, 
Doves  lay  their  nurselings  where  the  eagles  brood, 
And  harvests  ripen  upon  battle-fields. 
Ten  peaceful  years  sages  have  ruled  this  land, 
With  Jefferson  or  Madison  in  pow'r. 
All  my  malignant  arts  provoke  no  wars. 
I've  seen  the  population  multiplied, 
The  territory  doubled  in  extent, 
The  commerce  increased  more  than  seven-fold, 
The  wilderness  explored  from  sea  to  sea, 
Lewis  and  Clarke  in  distant  Oregon, 
As  pioneers  of  millions  who  shall  go 
To  till  the  lands  and  plow  Pacific's  waves. 
I've  seen  success  crown  Fulton's  enterprise 
To  yoke  the  steam,  and  make  it  pull  his  ships 
Against  opposing  tides  and  wayward  winds, 

(115) 


116  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Seen  his  torpedoes  dive  beneath  the  waves, 

Ready  to  hurl  destruction  at  all  foes 

That  dare  invade  the  waters  to  make  war. 

The  pirates,  whipped,  no  longer  vex  the  sea; 

Indians,  subdued,  no  more  distress  the  land; 

The  schemes  of  Burr  suppressed,  and  he  disgraced; 

Great  Hamilton,  who  rivaled  Jefferson, 

Mourned  by  all  parties  in  an  early  grave ; 

The  Eastern  faction  growled,  but  dared  not  bite, 

And  I,  in  my  malignity,  looked  on, 

Without  ability  to  stir  up  strife. 

Here  peace,  prosperity,  and  plenty  smiled 

On  Christian  principles  and  honest  men. 

But  I  have  not  been  idle.     Mammon  too 

Has  toiled  to  darken  their  benignant  skies, 

And  hurl  war's  furious  tempests  at  their  homes. 

Belial  has  stirred  these  Indians,  as  you  see, 

To  deeds  of  treachery  and  cruelty ; 

But  Harrison  has  whipped  the  savages. 

Behold  the  ashes  of  their  wigwam  homes! 

Say,  Mammon,  what  of  Britain's  "lords  of  trade?" 

Mammon.  I  made  them  agonize  with  envious  rage, 
As  Yankee  commerce,  borne  by  Yankee  ships, 
Caused  their  own  trade  to  languish  day  by  day; 
Then  sent  them  to  their  rulers  to  demand 
The  driving  of  these  upstarts  from  the  sea 
By  cutting  off  all  traffic  with  the  French. 
I  moved  the  Frenchmen  to  retaliate, 
And  close  against  them  all  of  Britain's  ports. 
I  thought  these  cautious  Christian  men  must  fight 
With  France  or  England,  or  with  both  at  once. 
Instead  of  that  they  joined  their  enemies 
To  keep  their  ships  confined  in  their  own  ports. 
Finding  they  would  not  tight  with  foreigners, 
1  tried  to  raise  a  fight  among  themselves 
By  tempting  all  the  selfish  sons  of  trade 
To  take  up  arms  against  the  embargo. 
New  England  listens,  and  may  yet  secede 
To  join  her  fortunes  with  the  Canadas. 
John  Henry  thinks  she  will,  and  so  docs  Craig, 
Who  now  rules  Canada  for  Britain's  king. 


BRITISH  OUTRAGES.  117 

Satan.  Mammon,  I  give  you  praise  for  work  well 

done. 

I  have  led  England  to  assert  a  right 
To  seize  her  subjects  wheresoever  found, 
And  to  impress  them  with  her  own  marines. 
Thus  ships  of  neutral  nations  now  are  searched 
For  men  to  fight  the  battles  of  King  George. 
Speaking  the  English  language  is  enough 
To  prove  them  subjects  of  the  English  King. 
So,  in  the  service  of  these  kidnappers, 
Six  thousand  citizens  of  these  proud  States 
Are  held.     Adding  insult  to  injury, 
I  made  the  "  Leopard"  stop  the  "Chesapeake" 
Near  her  own  harbor,  and  drag  from  her  decks 
Four  men  to  bondage,  one  to  cruel  death.  • 

These  peaceful  rulers  most  indignantly 
Ordered  all  British  war-ships  from  their  ports, 
Then  rested  on  in  quiet  dignity. 
At  last,  when  foreign  trade  was  quite  destroyed 
By  French  and  English  robbery  at  sea, 
Without  a  ship  that  dared  to  sail  abroad, 
The  prudent  men  proclaimed  "non-intercourse" 
With  pirate  nations  that  destroyed  their  trade. 
To  shame  them  out  of  their  inglorious  peace, 
I  made  them  stand  a  battle  on  the  sea. 
The  "Little  Belt"  attacked  the  "  President  " 
Without  a  word  of  warning  or  of  threat; 
But  as  brave  Rogers  punished  his  rude  foe, 
Giving  the  British  pirate  deadly  shots, 
'Twas  deemed  sufficient  to  avenge  the  wrong. 
So  those  most  patient  rulers  still  have  peace; 
But  they  shall  soon  have  war.     I'll  make  them  fight. 
Mammon,  send  Henry  to  the  fed'ral  court 
With  written  evidence  of  England's  plot 
To  wield  New  England's  factions  and  detach 
Her  wordy  traitors  from  the  fed'ral  league. 
Belial,  go  to  the  sea-ports.     Idle  throngs 
Need  but  your  help,  and  they  grow  desperate. 
Go  wake  the  warlike  woodsmen  of  the  West 
To  deeds  of  valor  worthy  of  themselves. 
Bring  up  young  statesmen  to  the  "capital: 


118  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

I'll  stir  ambition  in  their  youthful  blood, 
And  war's  rude  hurly-burly  shall  begin. 

Scene :  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C.,  December  25, 1812.  As.\ior>Ers, 
AZAZEL,  MARS,  SATAN,  BAAL,  MOLOCH,  CHEMOSH,  BELIAL,  MAM 
MON,  BELUS,  SERAPIS. 

Satan.  A  merry  Christmas  to  my  trusty  friends ! 
Corne,  celebrate  with  me  the  natal  day 
Of  David's  Son,  the  mighty  Prince  of  Peace; 
"While  his  meek,  peaceful  subjects  work  our  will. 
Roman  and  Greek  and  Protestant  agree, 
At  least  for  once  in  perfect  unity. 
They  all  combine  to  take  each  other's  lives; 
They  make  the  world  one  glorious  battle-field; 
While  fishes  of  all  oceans  feast  on  flesh 
Of  Christians  slaughtered  by  true  Christian  men. 
Russia  sees  millions  crimsoning  her  snows; 
All  soils  are  fertilized  with  Christian  blood ; 
Here  Protestants  with  Protestants  contend. 

Mars.  Huzza !  huzza !  war,  glorious  war  employs 
The  pious  subjects  of  the  Prince  of  Peace ! 

Baal.  Huzza!  huzza!  his  millions  haste  to  claim 
A  dwelling-place  with  us  in  hell's  dark  depths. 

All.  Huzza!  huzza!  huzza!  we  welcome  them ! 

Satan.  Yes,  this  young  nation  yielded  to  my  arts. 
The  Irishman,  John  Henry,  and  the  plot 
"Which  he  revealed,  roused  hatred  in  the  hearts 
Of  angry  millions.     Bold  statesmen  such  as 
Grundy,  Clay,  Calhoun  hurried  the  timid, 
Cautious,  prudent,  slow  into  rash  action. 
All  unprepared  in  every  thing  but  men, 
They  struck  the  strongest  nation  in  the  world. 
As  might  have  been  expected,  they  have  failed. 
Hull  basely  played  the  coward  at  Detroit; 
Surrendered  all  his  men,  lost  Michigan, 
Gave  up  Lake  Erie,  and  defenseless  left 
The  helpless  people  of  the  whole  North-west. 
Van  Rensselaer,  at  Qtfeenstown,  drove  the  foe, 


SATAN  BEIGNS.  119 

Ordered  twelve  hundred  men  to  cross  the  stream, 

And  help  complete  the  half-won  victory. 

New  York's  militia  would  not  leave  their  State: 

The  craven  cowards  left  their  country's  flag 

And  its  defenders  to  the  enemy. 

One  Smyth,  still  later,  sent  his  men  across, 

But  feared  to  lead  the  gallant  patriots. 

A  hero  leading  dastard  followers; 

A  dastard  leader  of  brave,  valiant  men. 

But  on  the  ocean  bravery  and  skill 

Have  given  immortality  to  names 

That  shall  be  honored  in  most  distant  lands. 

Decatur,  Porter,  Jones,  and  Isaac  Hull, 

Bear  off  the  honors  of  the  present  war; 

But  other  men  shall  highest  honors  claim 

Before  peace  hovers  o'er  this  land  again. 

Yet,  comrades,  all  the  honors  won  by  men 

Are  naught  compared  with  those  we  proudly  wear. 

Their  grandest  battles  are  but  skirmishes 

To  world-wide  conflicts  such  as  ours  are. 

Our  foes  are  stronger — yea,  omnipotent — 

And  destined  yet  to  triumph  over  us; 

But  we  fight  on  through  the  whole  course  of  time. 

We  rule  all  nations.     I  still  proudly  reign 

"  God  of  this  world,"  enthroned  o'er  all  mankind. 

Yes,  e'en  at  Christmas  I  rule  Christian  men. 

Behold  the  groat  men  stagg'ring  through  the  streets! 

To  time's  last  moment  earth  shall  still  be  mine, 

And  when  the  lake  of  fire  shall  blaze  round  me 

This  world  of  mine  shall  feel  consuming  fires. 

Messiah,  if  he  wants  it  for  his  saints, 

Must  it,  as  well  as  them,  create  anew. 

Scene:  In  the  woods  near  the  river  Thames,  Canada,  October  5, 1813. 
ABDIEL,  ITHUKIEL,  URIEL,  ZOPHIEL. 

Abdiel.  If  tears  were  ever  shed  by  angel  eyes, 
This  wicked  war  would  make  them  freely  flow. 
Last  January  Winchester's  brave  troops 
Surrendered  to  their  haughty  British  foes. 
But  Proctor,  the  most  infamous  of  men, 
Subjected  them  to  Indian  scalping-knives. 


120  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Ithuriel.  So  Dudley  and  his  men  were  sacrificed 
To  savage  fury  at  a  later  day. 

Uriel.  When  gallant  Chauncey  and  his  brave  marines 
Drove  British  ships  from  Lake  Ontario, 
Dearborn  crossed  over  to  the  northern  shore 
With  troops  to  capture  forts  and  army  stores. 
Th'  exploding  of  Toronto's  magazine 
Sent  death  to  heroes  that  were  led  by  Pike; 
But  in  the  arms  of  victory  they  fell, 
Crowned  with  the  praises  of  the  land  they  loved. 

Ithuriel.  Winder  and  Chandler  stormed  Fort  George 

in  May. 
It  yet  is  held  in  spite  of  England's  power. 

Zophiel.  Old  ocean  still  is  vexed  with  human  strife, 
And  hurls  his  storms  against  the  combatants; 
But  they  fight  on,  and  when  defeated  cry 
With  dying  Lawrence:  "Don't  give  up  the  ship! " 
But  not  on  bounding  billows  of  the  deep 
Do  British  sailors  seek  for  glory  now. 
To  proud  old  England  naval  warfare  means 
Prowling  along  the  shore  for  helpless  prey, 
Outraging  decency  and  burning  towns. 

Abdiel.  Hark  !  hark  !  I  hear  the  sounds  of  horrid  war, 
The  noise  of  musketry,  the  clash  of  arms; 
The  tramp  of  cavalry,  the  steady  step 
Of  British  infantry,  and  the  loud  cries 
Of  strong  frontiersmen,  battling  for  their  lives. 
List  to  the  Indian  war-whoop !     Hear  the  yell 
Of  dying  hundreds  in  their  agonies  ! 
See  Proctor  fleeing !     The  cruel  dastard 
Hastes  to  leave  the  field.     His  proud  regulars 
Flee  swiftly  in  the  steps  of  their  base  chief. 
Kentucky  horsemen  mow  them  down  like  wheat. 
See  that  strong  Indian !     Listen  to  his  voice. 
Urging  his  red  braves  forward  to  the  fight. 
That  is  Tecumseh,  bravest  of  his  race.' 
He's  badly  wounded;  see,  the  strong  man  falls! 
As  their  chief  dies  the  Indians  quit  the  field. 


AMERICANS   VICTORIOUS.  121 

See  Isaac  Shelby,  hero  of  two  wars, 
Now  civil  Governor  of  hia  great  State. 
And  there  is  Harrison;  Virginia's  blood 
Throbs  in  his  heart  and  mantles  on  his  cheek, 
Impelling  him  to  most  illustrious  deeds. 
See,  at  his  side,  the  manly  Colonel  Croghan, 
Brave  young  defender  of  Fort  Stevenson. 
And  there  is  Colonel  Johnson,  leaning  on 
The  shoulders  of  two  comrades  who  support, 
With  loving  hearts,  their  noble,  bleeding  friend. 
And  last,  but  most  renowned  of  all  the  throng, 
Behold  young  Perry,  hero  of  the  lake. 
His  naval  victory,  so  bravely  won, 
Thrilled  a  whole  nation  with  exultant  joy, 
And  rendered  this  day's  triumph  possible. 
This  double  vict'ry  gives  ten  thousand  homes 
Protection  against  bloody  tomahawks. 
The  playful  children  of  the  West  no  more 
Shall  check  their  sports  to  list  for  savage  yells. 
Matrons  and  maidens,  undisturbed  by  fear, 
Shall  sing  of  heaven,  and  find  it  in  the  smiles 
Of  lovely  innocence,  secure  from  harm. 

Scene:  Hartford,  Ct.,  December,  1814.    MARS,  SATAN,  CHEMOSH, 
MAMMON,  BELUS. 

Mars,  More  than  two  years  of  what  these  men  call 

war 
Have  passed  with  only  trifling  skirmishes. 

Satan.  True,  Mars,  but  you're  impatient  of  results. 
You  think  of  what  is  seen.     I  lay  vast  plans, 
Involving  millions  through  all  coming  time. 
You  only  sec  some  thousands  march,  fight,  die; 
Some  trifling  villages  consumed  by  fire. 
I  cherish  hatreds  between  North  and  South, 
Fanning  the  flames  that  shall  break  out  and  burn 
Through  this  broad  Union  in  the  days  to  come. 

Chemosh.  I  will  not  hear  this  war  belittled  so; 
This  bird  in  hand  is  worth  two  in  the  bush. 
Satan,  your  schemes  for  continental  woe 


122  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

May  end  in  failure,  wise  as  they  may  seem. 
Mars,  you  may  glory  in  great  Wellington, 
In  Bonaparte,  and  Europe's  countless  hosts, 
But  don't  despise  this  side-show  of  a  war 
Which  Britain  wages  as  with  her  left  hand. 
These  hating  kinsmen  have  struck  feai'ful  blows. 
What  think  you  of  the  nameless  horrors  seen 
Near  the  wild  banks  of  Eaisin's  bloody  stream  ? 
What  of  the  braves  by  bold  Tecumseh  led  ? 
What  of  their  conquerors  upon  the  Thames, 
Led  on  by  Johnson,  Shelby,  Harrison? 
What  of  the  boyish  Croghan  at  Sandusky, 
And  youthful  Perry,  whose  intrepid  deeds 
On  Erie's  waters  ring  around  the  world  ? 
Was  that  a  skirmish  when,  near  Chippewa, 
More  than  five  hundred  of  the  British  fell, 
Or  when  nine  hundred  fell  at  Lundy's  Lane, 
Where  fame's  loud  trump  proclaimed  the  honored 

names 

Of  Scott,  of  Ripley,  Jessup,  Miller,  Brown? 
What  of  Fort  Erie's  siege  ?  attempts  to  storm  ? 
Fierce  bombardment  for  more  than  forty  days  ? 
Its  fiery  sorties  and  its  brave  defense  ? 
When  fourteen  thousand  men  with  Prevost  marched. 
And  Downie's  mighty  fleet  accompanied, 
Up  Sorel  Eiver  to  the  Saranac? 
Was  that  not  war  that  forced  them  to  retreat, 
Losing  one-fifth  of  their  vast  armament, 
Their  admiral,  and  nearly  all  his  ships? 
Plattsburg  and  Lake  Champlain  pronounce  it  war. 
McDonough  and  Macomb  wear  warriors'  wreaths 
And  write  their  names  on  glory's  brightest  page. 
'Twas  worse  than  war  when  Ross  at  Washington 
Used  arson's  torch,  and  burned  the  capitol. 
'Twas  war  sublimed,  war  glorified,  when  Smith 
Marshalled  ten  thousand  men  at  Baltimore 
To  fight  at  North  Point  for  their  native  home. 
Since  that  great  battle  ev'ry  glowing  star 
In  freedom's  banner  flashes  forth  the  names 
Of  Baltimore,  McIIenry,  and  North  Point. 
In  most  heroic  times  this  would  be  war. 


JOHN  HENRY — THE  TEMPTER.  123 

Satan.  Yes,  Chemosh,  you  have  wisely  proved  your 

point. 

But,  Mammon,  what  report  have  you  to  make 
About  your  money-mongering  clientage  ? 

Mammon.  My  clients  must  be  treated  with  respect. 
True,  they  love  money;  others  love  it  loo, 
But  lack  the  shrewdness  and  the  enterprise 
By  which  New  England's  sons  enrich  themselves. 
Why  then  should  Satan  coin  an  uncouth  phrase 
To  fling  at  my  most  worthy  clientage? 
I'll  not  report  until  he  takes  it  back. 

Satan.  We'll  have  no  disputation  about  worda. 
I'll  take  it  back;  I  want  the  news  you  bring. 

Mammon.  Well,  then,  when  Adams  ruled,  and  Fisher 

Ames 

Was  the  chief  orator  in  Congress  Hall, 
New  England  was  well  pleased  with  peace  or  war. 
She  knew  her  sons  were  wisest,  bravesf,  best 
Of  all  who  sailed  the  seas  or  trod  the  earth, 
And  lost  all  patience  when  the  purblind  eyes 
Of  outside  millions  failed  to  see  it  so. 
'Twas  quite  too  bad  to  think  of  or  endure 
That  President,  Premier,  Chief-justice,  and 
Decatur,  gallant  prince  of  naval  chiefs, 
Should  all  be  Southern  born  and  Southern  bred. 
And  when  Louisiana  had  been  bought, 
The  wise  men  of  the  East  declared  'twas  time 
To  leave  the  Union  and  seek  wiser  friends. 
When  France  would  cripple  commerce,  and  the  sea 
Saw  Britain  kidnap  thousands  of  their  sons, 
War  was  demanded,  but  the  imbeciles 
Who  ruled  at  Washington  embargoed  trade, 
And  checked  the  bus'ness  by  which  men  grew  rich. 
No  wonder  my  shrewd  clients  looked  abroad 
For  commerce  that  could  not  be  found  at  home. 
And  still  they  seek  immediate  relief 
In  every  quarter  that  may  promise  help. 

Belus.  'Twas  then  John  Henry  came  from  Canada 


124  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

To  offer  them  Great  Britain's  potent  aid. 

They  listened  and  encouraged  him  to  hope 

That  they  would  meekly  bear  the  British  yoke, 

Though  Bunker  Hill  frowned  on  the  hateful. spy 

And  Lexington  and  Concord  spurned  the  wretch, 

While  silent  protests  came  from  the  green  graves 

Where  lay  the  honored  dust  once  nobly  worn 

By  Warren,  Prescott,  Adams,  Hancock,  Ames; 

But  brave  John  Adams,  true  and  faithful  still, 

Writing  in  kindness  to  his  early  friend, 

Told  Jefferson  the  law  must  be  repealed. 

'Twas  done,  and  still  they  were  not  satisfied. 

And  now  when  war  prevails  and  patriots  bleed, 

The  hydra  heads  of  faction  hiss  against 

What  they  had  long  demanded  as  most  wise. 

With  stifling  breath  they  try  to  suffocate, 

With  snaky  folds  to  crush  the  government; 

Destroying  credit  and  denying  aid, 

Betray  the  country  to  its  enemies. 

These  men  will  go  no  farther.     They  are  shrewd ; 

The  hatreds  of  the  sections  are  intense, 

But  their  self-interest  deeper,  stronger  far. 

Theirs  is  not  hot  blood  of  the  cavaliers, 

Nor  hasty  chivalry  of  Huguenots. 

They  cannot  hope  for  aught  from  Canada 

That's  worth  a  tithe  of  what  they  here  possess. 

No  stretch  of  Fcd'ral  tyranny  could  drive 

These  calculating  people  to  secede. 

But,  Satan,  they  are  ready  to  your  hand 

To  drive  out  men  more  hasty  than  themselves. 

Under  the  Constitution  they  will  claim 

All  that  they  want  and  hold  all  that  they  gain. 

Others  may  call  it  legal  robbery. 

But  they'll  drive  wedge  and  screw  still  farther  in, 

And  boldly  smile  at  their  shrewd  Yankee  trick. 

With  kindly  feeling  and  philanthropy, 

Their  condescending  charity  will  stoop 

To  lift  their  neighbors  to  their  own  high  plane 

Of  transcendental  super-eminence. 

If  those  dull  neighbors  venture  to  demur, 

Audacious  insults  may  be  hurled  at  them. 


THE  HARTFORD  CONVENTION.  125 

Those  failing,  rifles,  swords,  and  spears  complete 
Their  elevation  to  the  loftier  plane. 

Satan.  You  speak  most  wisely,  Belus;  but  the  world 
Has  many  people  that  are  worse  than  these, 
And  few  that  are  much  better  can  you  find. 
I'll  use  them  as  you  say  for  my  wise  ends. 
If  we  cannot  induce  them  to  secede,  . 
"We'll  use  them  to  make  other  men  go  out, 
And  then  perhaps  to  drive  them  back  again. 
But  these  conventionists  in  Hartford  met 
Will  give  their  names  to  infamous  contempt. 
As  banded  'gainst  their  country  while  at  war. 
When  they  complete  the  work  they  have  in  hand. 
And  threaten  Madison  with  what  they'll  do 
If  he  does  not  conclude  the  war  in  haste, 
'Twill  be  to  learn  of  peace  already  made, 
Without  the  least  regard  for  their  fierce  threats. 

Mammon.  Does  Babylonian  Belus  dare  to  blame 
The  wise  inhabitants  of  wisdom's  land? 
Does  Satan  dare  to  damn  them  with  faint  praise? 
Such  disrespect  deserves,  and  shall  receive, 
The  stern  rebuke  of  one  who  knows  them  well. 
This  land  of  scholars,  schools,  and  colleges, 
Of  statesmen,  orators,  philosophers, 
Of  wise  inventors,  and  industrious  men, 
Shall  flourish  in  despite  of  envious  hate. 

Scene:  New  Orleans,  January  8, 181^.    GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  ZEPIION, 
RAPHAEL,  ITHURIEL,  URIEL. 

Abdiel.  I  hail  you  happy  here,  my  friends,  to-day! 
Once  more  peace  smiles  upon  this  favored  land, 
Reposing  in  the  lap  of  victory. 
The  laurel-wreath  that  rests  on  Jackson's  brow 
Has  been  well  won,  and  now  is  nobly  worn. 
A  widow's  son,  trained  in  the  fear  of  God, 
His  boyhood  gave  its  strength  to  freedom's  cause. 
Later  in  life  he  championed  womanhood; 
Her  base  detractors  fled  before  his  wrath. 
When  savage  warriors  threatened  the  frontiers, 
And  slew  four  hundred  persons  at  Fort  Minis, 


126  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

He  rushed  to  rescue  others  from  such  fate. 

He  had  but  acorus  to  subsist  upon, 

But  gave  security  to  helpless  homes, 

And  wrote  his  honored  name  on  grateful  hearts. 

Zaplion.  When  British  ships  from  Pensacola  sailed 
With  troops  to  take  Fort  Bowyers'  garrison, 
He  hastened  to  repel  his  country's  foes. 
Then  storming  Pensacola,  he  drove  out 
The  enemy  from  Spanish  Florida. 
When  fifty  ships,  with  full  twelve  thousand  men, 
Came  to  attack  defenseless  New  Orleans, 
He  martial  law  proclaimed,  and  with  strong  will 
Compelled  the  people  to  defend  themselves. 
He  took  their  cotton-bales  to  build  a  wall 
For  their  protection  from  their  enemies; 
Sent  out  his  gun-boats  to  delay  the  foe, 
Then  from  the  river  he  bombarded  them; 
Still  later  sent  two  thousand  riflemen, 
With  deadly  aim  to  slay  their  officers. 
Then  falling  back  behind  his  cotton-bales, 
He  smiled  at  their  impotent  cannonade, 
And  waited  for  Napoleon's  conquerors. 
They  marched  this  morning,  led  by  Pakenhani; 
And  when  he  fell,  by  Gibbs;  and  then  by  Keen; 
When  ho  had  fallen,  Lambert  led  them  off 
In  swift  retreat  from  Jackson's  backwoodsmen. 
Eight  killed  and  eighteen  wounded  was  the  loss 
Sustained  by  the  undrilled  Americans. 
Of  vet'ran  British  seven  hundred  fell, 
With  fourteen  hundred  helpless  from  their  wounds 
And  full  five  thousand  pris'ners  left  behind. 
From  early  dawn  to  nearly  nine  o'clock 
The  fight  continued  with  terrific  loss. 
At  each  discharge  the  British  were  mowed  down 
By  marksmen  puch  as  they  had  never  met 
Until  they  faced  the  troops  of  Tennessee 
And  stood  before  Kentucky  riflemen. 
A  truce  is  granted  by  the  conqueror 
To  let  the  wounded  and  the  dead  receive 
All  due  attention  from  their  countrymen. 


AN  INTERN  A  TIONAL  COUR  T.  127 

Raphael.  You  say  the  war  is  ended,  peace  prevails. 
Please  tell  me  what's  been  gained  by  all  the  strife. 

Ithuriel.  The  States  have  seen  their  capitol  consumed, 
Their  coasts  laid  waste,  their  villages  destroyed, 
Their  soldiers  slain,  or  wounded,  or  diseased. 
Full  eighteen  thousand  sailors  have  been  lost, 
As  many  hundred  ships  captured  or  sunk. 
Have  paid  high  taxes  and  now  owe  a  debt 
Of  fivescore  million  dollars,  if  not  more. 
The  British  have  lost  much,  and  nothing  gained 
But  the  disgrace  of  arson,  outrages, 
And  high  renown  from  Indian  massacres. 
Both  now  gain  peace ;  yes,  peace,  and  nothing  more. 

Abdiel.  But  then  the  States  have  freedom  of  the  seas, 
Trade  unrestricted  by  their  stronger  foes, 
Exemption  from  impressment  of  their  sons, 
And  the  grand  record  of  such  deeds  as  this 
Performed  to-day  by  Jackson  and  his  troops 
To  hold  in  awe  the  tyrants  of  the  world, 
And  make  them  fear  t'  offend  these  mighty  States. 

Gabriel.  If  men  were  wise,  benevolent,  and  just, 
All  wars  might  cease,  peaco  everywhere  prevail, 
And  arbitration  settle  all  disputes. 
'Twere  better  still  to  organize  a  court 
To  judge  of  international  complaints. 
Each  country  on  the  globe  could  choose  its  judge 
And  furnish  its  proportion  of  a  force 
Commanded  by  the  marshal  of  that  court, 
To  properly  enforce  its  just  decrees. 
Earth's  armies  might  with  safety  then  disband, 
Producing,  not  destroying,  property 
Each  nation  could  get  help  for  its  police 
By  proper  application  to  the  court, 
And  thus  establish  order  in  all  lands. 
Contiguous  countries  wishing  to  unite 
Could  ask  the  court  to  give  them  its  consent. 
The  court  could  hold  its  sittings  when  and  where 
Occasion  and  convenience  might  demand. 


128  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Its  ships  and  regiments  might  first  embrace 

The  navies  and  the  armies  of  the  world, 

To  be  reduced  proportionately  till 

Ten  thousand  men  would  keep  mankind  in  peace. 

Uriel.  Hark !  hark !  the  hero  comes  !     Behold  the 

chief! 

The  city's  saved,  he  honors  civil  law. 
Judge  Hall  now  trembles,  fearing  Jackson's  friends, 
And  trembles  more  to  hear  the  chieftain's  voice; 
But  there  is  law,  not  wrath,  in  its  clear  tones: 
"Judge,  I  have  done  my  duty;  now  do  yours. 
The  court  shall  be  protected  by  the  power 
That  did  protect  the  city;  so  fear  not. 
If  I've  been  guilty  of  contempt  of  court, 
Inflict  the  penalty;  it  shall  be  paid." 
The  judge  assessed  the  fine,  which  Jackson  paid. 
This  grandest  vict'ry  of  the  chieftain's  life — 
The  hero's  triumph  over  his  own  pride, 
The  soldier's  high  regard  for  civil  law, 
The  warrior's  tribute  paid  to  legal  power — 
Is  the  rich  metal  of  a  brighter  crown 
Than  conq'ror  ever  wore  on  earth  before. 

Scene:  Pennsylvania  Avenue,  Washington,  D.  C.,  IS  15.    ITHURIEL, 
ABDIEL. 

Abdiel.  What  mean  this  music,  these  excited  crowds? 

Ithuriel.  Decatur  has  returned  from  Barbary; 
The  pirates  fell  or  fled  at  his  approach. 
Algiers,  Tripoli,  Tunis,  well  chastised, 
Surrendered  all  the  prisoners  they  held, 
And  paid  in  cash  for  their  bold  robberies. 
The  conq'ring  hero  and  his  brave  marines 
Bring  back  the  long  lost  exiles  to  their  homes. 
Wife,  children,  friends,  and  native  land  agree 
To  make  their  glad  hearts  overflow  with  joy; 
And  there  are  Madison,  Monroe,  Calhoun, 
And  all  the  cabinet  to  welcome  them 
And  to  do  honor  to  the  naval  chief 
That  rescued  them  from  bondage  with  strong  hand. 


THE  MISSOURI  COMPROMISE.  129 

Behold  Dccatur!  modest  and  serene, 
All  heaven  would  delight  to  honor  him. 

Scene :  The  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Augusl,  182 1.   SATAN,  BAAL, 
MAMMON. 

Satan.  My  honored  allies,  in  our  endless  wars 
Events  transpire  that  claim  our  serious  thoughts. 
The  Greeks  throw  oft' the  sultan's  galling  yoke; 
Old  Spain  will  lose  her  Western  colonies; 
France  groans  beneath  the  Bourbon's  tyranny; 
A  black  republic  called  Liberia 
Has  been  set  up  in  Western  Africa; 
Jackson  has  whipped  the  warlike  Seminolcs, 
Has  chased  the  savages  to  Spanish  ground, 
There  seized  and  hanged  two  meddling  Englishmen. 
England  said  nothing,  proud  old  Spain  complained, 
But  to  her  neighbors  sold  fair  Florida. 
I  witnessed  that  great  sale,  and  smiled  to  sco 
John  Quincy  Adams  Texas  give  away, 
While  Southern  statesman  kindly  closed  their  eyes, 
Or  looked  away  in  search  of  Northern  votes. 
These  statesmen  talk  of  roads,  canals,  a  bank, 
A  tariff  manufactures  to  protect; 
But  I  make  their  disputes  all  sectional, 
Make  every  act  a  triumph  for  the  North 
Or  for  the  South.     Monroe,  elected  twice, 
Must  soon  retire;  but  the  next  President 
Shall  owe  his  office  to  a  section's  vote 
Or  to  a  combination  between  men 
To  give  a  section  favors  it  demands. 
The  Union  grows,  new  States  increase  its  strength, 
And  blaze  in  starry  brightness  on  its  flag. 
Louisiana,  from  the  far  South-west, 
Met  Indiana  leading  Illinois; 
While  Mississippi  Alabama  led, 
To  greet  Missouri  and  far  Eastern  Maine ; 
But  when  Missouri  came  I  raised  a  storm 
That  shook  the  Union  with  an  earthquake's  force. 

Baal.  On  what  pretense  did  you  excite  that  storm  ? 
She  had  the  same  right  other  States  have  had. 
9 


130  THE  AMEEICAN  EPIC. 

Satan.  So  I  well  knew,  and  could  have  proved  it  too, 
But  jealousy  of  sections  intervened 
To  do  for  me  more  than  I  dared  to  hope. 
I  prompted  supercilious  piety 
To  claim  superior  philanthropy 
And  zeal  for  equal  rights  among  all  men, 
Not  equal  rights  among  the  sovereign  States, 
To  claim  for  Congress  absolute  control 
Of  all  the  territories  of  the  land, 
So  that  Missouri  could  not  be  a  State 
Unless  she  banished  slavery  from  her  soil. 

Baal.  When  did  the  States  give  Congress  such  a  right, 
Or  any  right  to  legislate  on  slaves? 

Satan.  Never.    The  Union  could  not  have  been  formed 
If  such  a  notion  had  been  entertained. 
But  many  wish  to  see  the  States  ignored, 
That  fed'ral  force  in  all  things  may  prevail. 
I  aid  them  now  to  take  and  firmly  hold 
All  they  desire  in  a  strong  government, 
But  never  could  induce  the  States  to  yield. 
Still  better  for  my  grand,  audacious  schemes 
A  compromise  draws  a  dividing  line 
From  East  to  West  across  the  continent. 
That  line  divides  two  parties;  fills  with  hate 
The  bosoms  of  a  self-willed,  warlike  race. 
That  line  I'll  widen,  make  it  red  with  blood 
And  glittering  with  swords  and  bayonets. 

Baal.  When  did  the  people  give  authority 
To  any  one  to  draw  a  line  like  that 
Between  co-equal  citizens  and  States? 
When  did  the  States  consent  to  such  a  line, 
Or  Southerners  agree  to  lineal  law, 
That  treats  them  as  despised  inferiors? 
When  did  French  residents  renounce  the  rights 
Secured  by  treaty  with  Napoleon  ? 

Satan.  Never.     'Twas  King  Majority  enthroned, 
His  sceptergave  to  false  philanthropy 
To  drive  Missouri  from  the  Union's  door. 


BUNKER  HILL  MONUMENT.  131 

'Twas  purblind  statesmanship,  with  stumbling  steps, 

Led  by  ambition  trampling  upon  law, 

The  rights  of  men,  of  States,  and  treaty  rights, 

All  by  the  Constitution  well  secured, 

Stretched  out  the  coward  hand  that  drew  that  line. 

Mammon.  'Twas  I  that  drew  tho  contract  that  con 
veyed 

New  England's  votes  to  the  most  southward  States, 
To  keep  the  slave  trade  open  twenty  years, 
And  their  th.ree  votes  for  tonnage  taxing  laws. 
I  saw  the  contract  faithfully  observed. 
The  slaves  were  brought  till  they  were  two  for  one, 
Doubling  their  numbers  in  the  twenty  years. 
They  taxed  out  foreign  tonnage  at  their  will, 
And  so  they  will  until  the  end  of  time. 
What  now  is  wanted?     Can  it  be  more  slaves? 

Belial.  They  want  to  bless  the  negroes  by  decay, 
To  extirpate  them,  let  them  slowly  starve, 
T'  inclose  them  in  a  narrow  boundary 
And  let  them  eat  their  heads  off  if  they  will. 
No!  no!  it  is  not  more  but  fewer  slaves, 
And  fewer  masters,  and  they  very  poor  ! 

Baal.  'Twould  certainly  be  better  for  the  slave 
To  range  at  will,  or  at  his  master's  will, 
Through  all  th'  unmeasured  acres  of  the  West. 

Sata.n.  I  listen  to  your  talk  with  due  respect, 
But  marvel  that  you  fail  to  see  in  me 
The  cause  of  wordy  warfare  and  the  strife 
That  now  embitters  sectional  disputes. 
I  care  not  for  the  slaves,  for  North  or  South, 
But  fan  the  flames  of  hatred  till  they  blaze 
With  all  the  fury  of  destructive  war. 

Scene :  Bunker  Hill,  Mass.,  June  17,  1825.    ARIEL,  RAPHAEL,  Zo- 

PHIEL. 

Zophiel.  What  means  this  gathering  of  thousands  here, 
With  martial  music  and  the  measured  tread 
Of  soldiers  ready  for  the  battle-field? 


132  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Raphael.  'Tis  half  a  century  since  on  this  hill 
Freemen  fought  bravely  for  their  liberty. 
To-day  survivors  of  that  famous  fight 
Meet  their  young  countrymen  to  celebrate 
The  triumphs  of  tho  cause  for  which  they  fought. 

Ariel.  There's  Daniel  Webster,  prince  of  orators, 
Whose  eloquence  shall  tell  of  noble  deeds 
Performed  by  heroes  fifty  years  ago, 
And  of  the  principles  for  which  they  bled, 
And  tho  rich  fruits  of  those  pure  principles. 

Zephon.  There's  Lafayette,  the  nation's  honored  guest, 
The  friend  of  Washington  and  liberty: 
Our  country's  friend — friend  in  her  time  of  need. 
This  grand  old  hero  lays  upon  this  spot 
The  corner-stone  of  a  tall  monument, 
Whose  tow'ring  top,  still  pointing  to  the  skies, 
Shall  tell  the  generations  yet  to  come 
'Twas  their  forefathers'  God  whose  mighty  hand 
Gave  them  tho  liberty  that  they  enjoy. 
Great  Lafayette  came  back  to  visit  now 
The  people  that  in  youth  he  helped  to  free. 
A  mighty  multitude,  with  happy  hearts, 
Have  welcomed  him  to  their  rejoicing  homes. 
They  give  their  benefactor  fertile  lands 
And  crown  him  with  a  nation's  gratitude. 
They  see  him  shed  affection's  flowing  tears 
Upon  the  honored  tomb  of  Washington. 
They  see  the  joy  that  lights  his  countenance 
As  he  beholds  their  great  prosperity, 
Sees  mines  and  forests  and  the  fruitful  soil 
Lavish  upon  them  richest,  rarest  gifts. 
Old  ocean  rolls  her  treasures  to  their  shores, 
And  commerce  brings  rich  tribute  to  their  ports. 
They  see  how  gratified  he  is  to  learn 
That  Porter  whipped  the  pirates  of  the  Gulf, 
Till  none  remain  t'  alarm  the  sons  of  trade; 
That  Congress  recognized  the  governments 
Of  all  the  new  republics  of  the  South 
As  independent  nations  of  the  earth; 


THE  MONROE  DOC  Tit  IN E.  133 

That  President  Monroe  had  notified 

Old  Europe  that  she  shall  not  colonize 

A  single  spot  of  this  free  continent. 

Now  when  he  seeks  the  shores  of  his  loved  France, 

Rcmemb'ring  where  his  blood  in  youth  was  shed, 

They  send  him  on  the  good  ship  "  Brandywine." 


BOOK  SEVENTH. 


Scene:  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C.,  March,  1829.    SATAN,  MAMMON, 
BELIAL,  BAAL. 

Satan.  Fate  scorns  against  us  now,  my  bravo  compeers. 
Jackson,  inaugurated,  spoils  my  plans. 
lie  is  a  strict  constructionist,  and  firm 
In  his  determination  to  maintain 
State  rights  and  civil  liberty  against 
All  usurpations  of  the  fcd'ral  power. 
With  him  comes  in  a  Senate  to  sustain 
And  strengthen  him.     Monopolies  must  die. 
Protective  tariffs  will  no  longer  rob 
The  planters  to  enrich  the  men  with  mills. 
The  bank  must  perish,  and  the  treasury, 
Freed  from  the  leeches  that  now  feast  on  it, 
Gather  no  more  than  its  demands  compel 
For  uses  that  are  constitutional. 
Now,  I  had  hoped  that  Adams  would  sci've  out 
Another  term,  and  give  the  greedy  East 
All  that  it  asks  from  the  depleted  South; 
Would  strain  the  Constitution  till  it  breaks, 
Rending  all  ties  that  now  connect  the  States. 
This  disappointment  vexes  me  to-day. 
Give  your  advice.     Say  what  shall  next  be  done. 

Mammon.  Press  onward  in  the  course  you  have  pur 
sued. 

The  fact'ry  lords  are  not  yet  satisfied. 
The  iron  masters  more  protection  claim: 
They  hoodwink  honest  men  and  patriots 
With  "The  Americans  against  the  world." 
Ambition's  bribes  they  proffer  to  the  great, 
And  offer  money  in  exchange  for  votes. 
I  pledge  my  clientage  to  your  support; 
We  plant  our  money  for  productive  crops. 
(134) 


FACTORY  LOUDS. 

Belial.  I  too  can  tell  of  something  you  will  like 

My  client  who  was  once , 

Now  Mrs.     .     .     .,     will  be  snubbed,  tabooed 

By  the  elite  of  chaste  society. 

The  pious  wives  of  Jackson's  cabinet 

Will  bo  required  to  recognize  my  pet, 


135 


HENRY  CLAY  AND  A  MANUFACTURER. 

Or  risk  the  anger  of  the  President. 

Their  husbands  will  pi'otect  them  in  the  right 

To  freely  choose  their  own  associates. 

This  will  drive  out  the  faithful  married  men, 

And  leave  the  widower  of  Kinderhook, 

The  trusted  counselor  of  him  who  rules; 


136  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Waiting  the  day  that  makes  him  President. 
The  sly  old  fox  can  safely  bide  his  time. 

Baal.  But,  Belial,  did  not  the  Yice-president 
Expect  the  presidency  in  his  turn? 

Belial.  He  did,  but  it  is  learned  that  he  condemned 
The  Gen'ral  for  his  course  in  Florida, 
And  his  chaste  wife  tabooed  and  spurned  my  pet. 

Baal.  Why  did  the  President  part  with  his  friends 
Rather  than  see  your  pi-etty  pet  tabooed? 

Belial.  His  pious  mother  in  his  early  youth 
Made  him  the  champion  of  womanhood. 
To  slander  female  innocence  and  worth 
Was  an  offense  he  never  would  forgive. 
Some  months  ago  his  faithful,  loving  wife 
Was  torn  from  his  embrace  by  cruel  death. 
The  gallant  hero  laid  her  sacred  form 
Beneath  the  sod  with  many  a  tender  tear. 
The  mem'ry  of  her  virtues  stirred  the  depths 
Of  his  indignant  wrath  against  the  wretch 
Whose  filthy  tongue  had  slandered  her  good  nama 
A  thousand  deaths  of  foul-mouthed  slanderers 
Seemed  insufficient  for  so  vile  a  crime. 
Just  then  my  lovely  pet  flashed  on  his  sight 
With  tears  of  blushing,  injured  innocence, 
And  claimed  protection  from  her  slanderers. 
A  world  in  arms  he  would  have  then  defied 
And  bravely,  nobly  died  in  her  defense. 
Satan,  you  smile,  but  all  the  heav'nly  hosts 
Had  been  her  champions  if  they  had  seen 
The  lovely  innocence  she  then  displayed. 

Satan.  Belial,  I  give  you  thanks  for  all  you  tell; 
And,  Mammon,  thanks  for  your  most  sage  advice. 
New  combinations  now  seem  possible 
That  may  accomplish  more  than  I  had  hoped. 
Yes,  wo  have  parties  that  are  sectional, 
The  East  against  the  West  and  planting  States. 
The  fed'ral  power  arrayed  against  State  rights. 
Republican  is  Fed'ral  newly  named. 


JACKSON  S  IRON  WILL. 

There  is  the  bank  as  planned  by  Hamilton, 
And  here  a  party  claiming  all  he  asked, 
All  that  he  asked,  but  could  not  then  obtain; 
And  here  is  Jackson,  with  his  iron  will, 
His  honest  purpose  to  uphold  the  right, 
With  a  strong  tendency  to  claim  that  he 
Himself  alone  is  the  Democracy. 
I'll  work  the  ruin  of  these  prosp'rous  States, 
Accepting  help  from  all  who'll  give  me  aid. 
But  there  is  something  truly  ominous 


137 


ANDREW  JACKSOX. 

In  the  coincidence  that  brought  the  deaths 

Of  Jefferson  and  Adams  at  one  time, 

And  that  just  fifty  years  from  the  great  day 

When  independence  was  at  first  proclaimed. 

How  strange !     The  two  great  patriots,  when  young, 

Labored  in  concert  freedom  to  secure; 

Then  led  opposing  parties  through  long  years, 

In  age  became  like  brothers,  and  in  death, 

On  Independence  Day,  were  grandly  joined. 

May  not  this  hint  that  union  will  prevail 


138  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Against  all  arts  of  devils  or  of  men? 
I  hear  of  cars  to  bo  propelled  by  steam, 
Gliding  on  iron  rails  with  wondrous  speed. 
This  new  invention  promises  to  be 
Of  priceless  value  to  this  favored  land. 
We  ihust  begin  to  study  in  advance 
How  we  can  make  it  hurry  men  to  hell, 
By  accidents,  by  frauds,  by  Mammon's  arts, 
By  all  of  Belial's  sharp,  deceptive  tricks. 

Scene:  The  Capitol  at  Washington,  D.  C.,  March  4,  1S33.    SATAN, 
BAAL,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  What  are  our  prospects  now,  most  worthy 
friends  ? 

Belial.  The  cabinet  was  scattered  as  proposed, 
And  Kinderhook's  shrewd  widower  became 
The  favorite  confidant  of  his  great  chief — 
Was  sent  to  England  as  embassador. 
His  rivals  in  the  Senate  called  him  back, 
^Refusing  to  confirm  the  nominee, 
But  that  has  made  him  the  Vice-president. 
He  takes  the  oath  of  office  here  to-day, 
And  four  years  hence  will  be  the  President. 

Mammon.  I  with  success  have  crowned  my  latest 

scheme. 

The  greedy  manufacturers  secured 
The  highest  tariff  ever  yet  imposed, 
Threatened  disunion  if  it  was  denied, 
And  promised  money,  honor,  power,  and  fame 
To  all  who  aided  their  nefarious  plans. 

Marx.  I  stirred  the  hot  blood  of  the  fiery  tSouth 
To  nullify  the  hateful  robber  law, 
^  And  got  the  Force  bill  passed  to  have  them  hanged. 
1  wait  in  hope  to  see  the  strife  begin. 

Baal.  I  gave  to  Hayno  and  Webster  and  Calhoun 
Such  oratory  as  earth  seldom  hears 
To  stir  opposing  forces  into  strife. 
Their  sections  were  so  charmed  with  their  mistakes 
That  Edward  Livingston  could  scarce  command 


THE  TARIFF  REDUCED.  139 

Attention  from  admiring  Senators, 

While  he  set  forth  truth  without  error  mixed. 

Satan.  Well  done!  well  done  !  co-workers  with  your 

chief, 

Your  great  success  emboldens  mo  to-day. 
But,  Mars,  you  may  wait  twenty  years  or  more 
To  see  this  peaceful  country  drenched  in  blood. 
That  time  will  come;  you  shall  not  wait  in  vain. 
These  Carolinians  are  very  brave, 
And  Claj'  has  yielded  to  their  just  demands. 
The  fact'ry  barons  have  to  stand  aside 
Till  their  great  champion  saves  the  land  he  loves. 
Calhoun,  victorious,  sees  the  tariff  tax 
Greatly  reduced  through  several  years  to  come. 
But  nee,  Jackson  begins  his  second  term  to-day; 
The  great  Chief-justice  hears  him  take  the  oath. 

Scene:   Woodsnear  battle-field  of  San  Jacinto,  Tex.,  April,  1836.   AB- 
DIEL,  ITHURIEL. 

Abdiel.  We  meet  again,  companion  of  my  toils. 
What  brings  you  to  these  far  South-western  wilds? 

Ithuriel.  The  people  introduced  by  Austin  here 
Have  been  my  frequent  care  for  many  months. 
I  witnessed  their  distresses  and  their  griefs, 
And  the  injustice  of  their  enemies 
Before  the  storms  of  war  beat  on  their  homes; 
The  horrors  of  the  Alamo  beheld, 
And  near  this  place  expect  a  conflict  soon. 
What  can  you  tell  me  of  the  land  we  love? 

Abdiel.  That  land  still  prospers,  but  the  cholera 
lias  sent  its  thousands  down  to  gloomy  graves. 
Black  Hawk  and  all  his  Indian  braves,  subdued, 
No  more  distress  the  frontier  with  their  yells. 
France  sent  five  millions  to  the  treasury, 
And  Portugal  has  settled  her  old  debts. 
Fire  in  New  York  laid  forty  acres  bare, 
Consuming  eighteen  millions  of  their  wealth. 
The  politicians  battle  still  for  place 
And  fiercely  wage  unceasing  wordy  wars. 


140  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Death  has  been  claiming  great  men  for  his  prey: 
Chief-justice  Marshall,  .Randolph  of  Boanoke, 
Carroll  of  Carrollton,  and  James  Monroe, 
Have  lately  been  laid  low  in  peace  to  rest. 
Like  Jefferson  and  Adams,  James  Monroe 
Died  calmly  upon  Independence  Day. 
May  not  this  indicate  that  the  great  God 
Makes  that  fair  land  peculiarly  his  care  ? 
But  hark  !  the  sound  of  battle  comes  this  way  I 

I  go  to  learn  the  issue  of  the  fight 

The  Texans  have  their  independence  gained. 
Their  foes  have  fallen  on  the  battle-field, 
Are  captured  or  are  scattered  to  the  winds. 
See  here  comes  Houston,  hero  of  this  fight; 
And  Santa  Ana,  captured,  comes  this  way. 
He  well  deserves  to  die  a  murd'rer's  death, 
But  his  release  will  give  the  Texans  peace, 
And  crown  with  independence  their  brave  State. 

Scene:  House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  Decembers?,  1837. 
SATAN,  GABRIEL. 

Satan.  Ha-ha!  Ha-ha!     My  grandest  work  begins ! 
Slade  of  Yermont  has  raised  my  battle-cry, 
And  threescore  Congressmen  in  chorus  join, 
Insulting  all  who  dare  to  own  black  slaves. 
They  ask  for  votes  to  set  the  negroes  free, 
Just  as  if  Congress  was  omnipotent, 
With  full  authority  to  work  its  will. 
But  Wise,  Legare,  Rhett,  Griffin,  and  McKay 
Take  up  the  quarrel  on  the  other  side, 
Sustained  by  all  the  Southern  Congressmen. 
They  handle  one  another  without  gloves. 
How  orderly!  how  calm!  how  dignified  ! 
How  loving!  how  courteous!  how  refined! 
This  hatred  of  the  sections  I'll  inflame 
Until  all  hearts  shall  blaze  with  fiery  wrath. 
With  British  emissaries  I  began 
My  fierce  attack  upon  all  Southerners. 
Enthusiastic  poets  next  assailed 
Their  Southern  neighbors  with  vindictive  zeal. 
The  smartlings  of  lyceums  then  began 


HATE'S  CRUEL  CREED.  141 

To  flap  their  unfledged  wings  against  the  South, 

And  with  soft,  gristly  bills  to  fiercely  peck 

At  reputations  such  as  Washington's. 

Then  hireling  lecturers,  with  caustic  tongues, 

Went  forth  to  earn  their  bread  by  kindling  strife; 

While  pulpit  politicians  loudly  preached 

Hate's  cruel  creed  through  sacred  Sabbath  hours. 

Those  insolent  petitions  1  shall  use 

To  fan  disunion's  embers  into  flames, 

And  hurl  to  every  corner  of  the  land 

lied,  sparkling  brands  of  desolating  wrath. 

Gabriel.  [Drawing  nigh.]  Satan,  I  know  your  reasons 

for  this  work, 

And  marvel  much  that  you  have  so  deceived 
So  many  shrewd,  well-meaning  citizens, 
That  at  your  instigation  they're  employed 
To  overturn  the  best  of  governments, 
By  trampling  on  the  contracts  of  their  sires 
By  which  themselves  have  greatly  profited. 
Did  not  the  British  bring  the  negroes  here, 
Forcing  the  slave  trade  on  the  colonies? 
Did  not  New  England  contract  with  the  South 
To  bring  them  slaves  for  the  first  twenty  years, 
If  the  most  southward  States  would  vote  with  them 
To  tax  the  tonnage  of  all  foreigners  ? 
Did  not  the  East  get  worthless  debts  assumed 
Due  by  the  States  to  her  rich  citizens, 
By  giving  to  the  South  the  capital? 
Were  not  these  contracts  made  in  all  good  faith 
By  sections  as  with  sections,  States  with  States? 
Do  not  those  sections  and  those  States  still  live? 
And  do  not  those  fair  "bargains"  bind  them  still? 
If  they  would  rue  the  contracts  that  they  made, 
Why  not  surrender  up  the  price  received? 
If  they  repent  of  selling  human  souls, 
Why  not  with  tearful  eyes  go  buy  them  back, 
And  set  them  free,  and  pay  them  for  their  time  ? 
Jndas  himself  brought  back  the  price  of  blood, 
But  no  place  for  repentance  could  he  find. 
They'll  claim  exemption  from  the  punishment 


142  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Due  to  the  sin  committed  by  their  sires; 
But  will  this  plea  hold  good  while  they  retain 
The  profits  of  the  contracts  which  they  break? 
Will  quarrels  or  hot  conflicts  with  the  South 
Atone  for  sins  for  which  they  hold  the  fruits? 
Will  they  not  meet  before  the  judgment  bar 
Their  own  sins  and  their  fathers'  both  combined, 
Their  violations  of  the  contracts  made, 
Joined  with  the  horrors  of  the  vile  slave  trade? 
If  sympathy  for  slaves  would  break  their  bonds, 
To  buy  them  back  is  the  one  honest  way. 
If  chivalry  must  fight  to  set  slaves  free, 
Why  break  the  solemn  covenants  they  made 
With  their  own  kinsmen  and  compatriots? 
Why  not  attack  Dahomey  or  Brazil, 
Whose  right  to  slaves  they  have  not  guaranteed  ? 
Who  gave  the  Congress  any  right  to  slaves  ? 
No  master  ever  did,  nor  any  State. 
No  State  had  such  authority  to  give, 
Nor  could  the  Congress  such  a  right  assert 
Without  destroying  justice,  union,  peace. 
Satan,  why  lead  these  men  so  far  astray  ? 

Satan.  Gabriel,  what  right  have  you  to  question  mo  ? 
You  speak  the  truth,  but  what  care  I  for  truth? 
I'll  make  these  meddling  fellows  rule  this  land, 
In  spite  of  compacts,  constitutions,  laws, 
And  all  the  compromises  they  have  made. 
Sheer,  brazen  impudence  shall  help  them  on, 
Till  step  by  step  they  rise  to  sovereign  power, 
And  deluge  this  fair  land  with  kindred  blood. 
Nay,  more,  I  frankly  tell  you  to  your  face 
They'll  do  it  all  in  the  great  name  of  Christ. 
Go,  Gabriel,  lead  the  choruses  of  heaven, 
But  know  that  I  still  rule  this  lower  world. 

Gabriel.  The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  Satan  !     I  behold 
The  chains  of  darkness  with  which  you  are  bound, 
That  shall  confine  you  in  the  depths  of  hell; 
While  earth,  no  more  polluted  by  your  steps, 
Shall  be  the  home  of  happiness  and  love. 


THREE  PRESIDENTS  IN  FIVE  WEEKS.  143 

See  your  misguided  dupes — they  come  this  way: 
Slade,  Ogle,  Cofwin,  Nay  lor,  and  the  rest. 

Scene:  Senate  Chamber,  Washington,  D.  C.,  February  13,  184^. 
Henry  Clay  presenting  a  petition  for  the  abolition  of  slavery  in  the 
District  of  Columbia.  SATAN,  MAKS. 

Satan.  Unwilling  as  he  is,  Clay  does  my  work. 
"Tis  not  for  his  Kentuckians  ho  claims 
The  right  to  offer  these  petitions  here. 

Mars.  Why  is  it  that  petitions  have  of  late 
Become  less  frequent  and  are  seldom  seen  ? 

Satan.  The  hands  that  held  the  pen  have  been  out 
stretched 

To  beg  fat  offices,  which  they  expect 
When  Harrison  becomes  the  President. 
Besides,  'twas  ascertained  that  full  four-fifths 
Of  Congress  disapproved  the  action  asked. 
Self-love  and  self-conceit  talk  much  of  slaves, 
With  supercilious  scorn;  of  masters  much, 
With  hate's  envenomed  hiss  and  envy's  curse. 
T'  annul  a  contract  by  a  swindling  trick, 
Or  rob  another  under  forms  of  law, 
Imparts  more  pleasure  than  the  heav'ns  could  yield 
To  some  of  Mammon's  shrewd,  sharp  clientage. 

Scene  :  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C.,  April  6, 1841. 

Zeplion.  How  blessed  this  land,  where  peace  and  order 

reign, 

Though  rulers  change  three  times  within  five  weeks! 
Van  Buren  has  to  private  life  retired, 
And  Harrison,  the  people's  choice,  stood  forth 
To  rule  in  righteousness  the  land  he  loved. 
But  death  removed  him  to  a  higher  sphere, 
And  Tyler  takes  the  ruler's  place  to-day. 
These  changes  have  not  cost  one  drop  of  blood, 
Nor  drawn  a  tear-drop  from  an  infant's  eye, 
Nor  brought  a  blush  to  beauty's  lovely  cheek, 
Nor  caused  a  widow's  heart  to  throb  with  fear. 


(144; 


STATE   HOrSE,  PHILADELPHIA. 


THE  MAGNETIC  TELEGRAPH.  145 

Ariel.  The  census  shows  that  in  the  last  ten  years 
The  States  have  gained  twice  told  the  number  that 
On  Independence  Day  defied  King  George. 
Two  new  republics  join  the  kindred  band 
That  constitutes  the  great  United  States. 
Along  the  lakes  reposes  Michigan, 
While  Arkansas  rests  by  the  river-side. 
The  warring  Seminoles  have  been  subdued: 
Fair  Florida  no  longer  dreads  their  wrath. 
The  peaceful  Cherokees,  with  sobs  and  tears, 
Left  their  old  home  and  their  forefathers'  graves, 
And  journeyed  sadly  toward  the  setting  sun. 
The  white  men  paid  them  millions  for  their  lands, 
And  gave  them  richer  ground  beyond  the  flood; 
But  gold  soothed  not  the  sorrows  of  those  hearts 
That  heaved  the  patr'ots'  sigh  for  native  land. 
The  white  man's  contract  with  the  white  man  made 
Must  be  complied  with ;  so  the  Indian  marched, 
Driv'n  by  white  soldiers  from  their  much  loved  homes. 

Uzziel.  Did  retribution  break  the  white  man's  banks, 
Sinking  two  hundred  millions  in  one  year, 
Driving  the  rich  men  from  their  palaces  ? 
Will  some  Tecumseh,  in  the  days  to  come, 
With  most  despotic  cruelty  drive  out 
The  peaceful  whites  from  that  same  lovely  land  ? 

Raphael.  'Tis  not  for  me  to  say;  the  future's  sealed. 
So  of  (rod's  will,  in  what  he  here  permits, 
Or  rather  what  he  suffei-s  to  be  done. 
But  yonder  comes  Tyler  to  take  the  oath, 
And  Taney  to  administer  to  him 
The  obligations  of  a  President. 

Scene:  Baltimore,  Md.,   May  29,  1844.     The  Magnetic  Telegraph. 
RAPHAEL,  ITHURIEL. 

Raphael.  This  day  has  witnessed  such  a  grand  event 
As  men  have  never  seen  on  earth  before. 
Compared  with  it,  all  interests  of  these  times 
Must  dwindle  into  insignificance. 
The  title  to  Van  Rensellaer's  broad  lands; 
Dorr,  in  the  prison,  or  at  liberty, 
10 


146  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

To  vex  Rhode  Island  with  anarchic  schemes; 
The  monument  that  stands  on  Bunker  Hill; 
The  Bank  bill  vetoed,  or  the  Bankrupt  bill; 
The  cabinet  dissolved;  the  boundary  line 
Adjusted  with  Great  Britain  peaceably — 
What  are  they  all  compared  with  this  event  ? 

Ithuriel.  Please  tell  me  what  it  is  of  which  you  speak  ? 

Raphael.  'Tis  the  magnetic  telegraph  by  Morse. 
He  makes  acidulated  metal  plates 

Seize  with  strong  hands  the  lightning's  wond'rous  force, 
And  send  it  as  a  post-boy  round  the  world, 
Over  his  wiry  path  with  such  great  speed 
As  distances  the  swift-winged  flight  of  time, 
Or  the  velocity  of  all  the  spheres, 
Or  undulations  of  the  rays  of  light. 
It  makes  all  nations  neighbors,  and  gives  each 
An  interest  in  the  welfare  of  them  all. 
"  What  hath  God  wrought!  "     Give  glory  to  his  name! 
And  let  all  people  loudly  say  "Amen  !  " 
Behold  the  benefactor  of  his  race, 
Whose  honored  name  shall  flash  around  the  world 
And  be  emblazoned  in  the  book  of  life! 

Scene :  Washington  D.  C.,  July  4, 1846.    SATAN,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 
Satan.  What  brings  you  here  on  Independence  Day  ? 

Mammon.  The  interests  of  my  clients  are  at  stake. 
They  saw  with  undissembled  pain  and  grief 
Tyler  succeed  the  much  loved  Harrison. 
VVith  wrath  and  indignation  they  beheld 
Texas  annexed  in  spite  of  their  protests. 
War  followed,  and  they  yelled  with  savage  rage. 
But  here  they're  touched  in  their  most  tender  place — 
Their  pocket-nerve  is  sorely,  sadly  rasped. 
Four  years  ago  Clay's  compromise  had  brought 
The  tariff  to  the  rate  agreed  upon ; 
But,  to  their  interests  ever  wide  awake, 
My  clients  shrewdly  got  the  rates  increased. 
But  Polk  defeated  Clay,  and  then  was  heard 
Much  talk  of  strict  construction  and  the  like. 


A   TARIFF  FOR  REVENUE.  147 

A  tariff  for  protection  was  pronounced 

Unconstitutional,  and  breach  of  faith. 

To  introduce  it  was,  they  said,  "  to  lie," 

And  to  enforce  it,  "  arrantly  to  rob." 

We  pleaded  precedents,  and  boldly  claimed 

That  from  great  Hamilton  to  Henry  Clay 

Protection  was  the  settled  policy 

Of  this  great  nation,  and  should  ever  be; 

But  they  out-voted  us,  and  will  require 

My  much  protected  friends  to  take  their  hands 

Out  of  their  neighbors'  purses  with  sad  haste, 

Unless  the  Senate  holds  while  rich  men  rob. 

Satan.  Be  of  good  cheer.     I  now  am  laying  plans 
By  which  protected  wealth  may  gorge  itself 
At  poverty's  expense  without  control; 
When  war  between  the  sections  with  red  hands 
Shall  hold  subjected  millions  by  their  throats 
And  let  protection  rob  at  its  sweet  will. 
But  there  stands  Polk,  with  Walker  by  his  side: 
They've  planned  a  tariff  that's  for  revenue. 

Scene  :  Battle-field  of  Buena  Vista,  Mexico,  February  2-*,  1847.    SA 
TAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  What  think  you  of  this  battle,  my  great  friend  ? 
Did  Macedonians  equal  Taylor's  troops  ? 
Did  Rome's  famed  legions  make  so  brave  a  fight  ? 

Mars.  I  must  confess  these  troops  are  unsurpassed 
By  any  I  have  seen  in  ancient  times. 
I  saw  on  Palo  Alto's  battle-field, 
And  in  Resaca  de  la  Palma's  fight, 
And  on  the  heights  of  Monterey  displayed 
Such  valor  as  I  heartily  admired ; 
But  Buena  Vista  bears  the  palm  away 
From  all  the  conflicts  I  have  witnessed  yet. 
The  unpretending  hero  of  this  fight 
Is  coming  this  way,  "Rough  and  Ready"  still. 
See  at  his  side  the  husband  of  his  child ! 
Though  long  estranged,  they  now  are  reconciled. 
Jeff.  Davis  is  the  old  man's  joy  and  pride, 
Whose  Mississippians,  a  living  wall 


148  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

'Gainst  which  the  tide  of  battle  broke  in  vain, 
Drove  back  the  surging  Mexicans  to-day. 
And  there  is  Marshall,  Washington,  and  Bragg, 
Who  gave  the  foe  "  a  little  more  of  grape;  " 
And  there  young  Breckenridgo  and  Crittenden, 
And  there  the  unnamed  heroes  of  the  ranks — 
Let  Jacob  Goodson  represent  them  all. 
Hurrah!  hurrah  for  Buena  Vista's  braves! 
They  drove  five  times  their  number  from  the  field  ; 
But  Clay,  McKee,  and  hundreds  of  brave  men 
Yielded  their  lives  to  win  the  victory. 

Scene :  C%  of  Mexico,  dawn  of  day,  September  13,  1847.    SATAN, 
MASS,  BELIAL,  BAAL. 

Baal.  The  strife  is  nearly  ended.     War-worn  troops 
Enter  to-day  their  foe's  proud  capital. 
A  war  like  this  I  never  saw  before. 
The  great  republic  wins  in  every  fight. 
A  handful  of  brave  men,  far  from  their  homes, 
Most  of  them  raw  recruits,  meet  well-drilled  foes, 
Ten  times  their  number,  backed  by  millions  more, 
And,  having  conquered  them,  bind  up  their  wounds, 
And  treat  them  as  born  brothers  and  true  friends. 

Belial.  Such  wars  as  this  I  have  no  fondness  for. 
I  favor  wars  with  more  of  deviltry. 
These  "  goody-goody  "  men  disturb  no  roosts, 
They  rob  no  sheep-folds  on  their  pious  march, 
But  leave  their  Bibles  with  their  enemies. 
'Tis  said  they  offer  fifteen  millions  now 
For  land  that  is  already  theirs  by  war: 
This  to  the  conquered  from  their  conquerors. 

Mars.  So  charmed  am  I  by  bravery  in  arms 
That  I  was  blind  to  things  of  which  you  speak. 
I  saw  the  cities  of  the  Western  coast 
Surrender  to  Sloat,  Stockton,  and  Fremont. 
I  witnessed  Kearney's  march  to  Santa  Fe, 
Saw  it  surrender  to  the  troops  he  led ; 
Then  saw  him  turn  toward  the  setting  sun 
And  at  San  Gabriel,  with  a  few  brave  men, 
Secure  an  empire  for  his  countrymen; 


VICTORIES  IN  MEXICO.  149 

Saw  Doniphan  with  his  eight  hundred  march 

From  their  Missouri  homes  to  Saltillo, 

Fight  at  Bracito,  cross  the  Rio  Grande, 

Capture  El  Paso,  whip  the  Mexicans 

At  Sacramento  Creek;  march  to  Chihuahua, 

Capture  it  and  forty  thousand  people, 

Besides  troops;  there  with  his  ragged  heroes 

March  again  to  find  and  make  report  to 

General  Wool  at  distant  Saltillo. 

I  marveled  at  the  fall  of  Vera  Cruz ; 

And  when  on  Cerro  Gordo's  rocky  heights 

Twiggs  won  the  day,  I  scarce  believed  my  eyes. 

And  when  five  thousand  men  so  far  from  home 

Took  Jalapa,  Perote,  and  Puebla, 

With  prisoners,  artillery,  and  stores, 

I  said  "  This  is  but  bait  by  which  t'  entrap 

These  bold  invaders  of  this  flow'ry  land." 

When  unopposed  the  val'rous  troops  had  passed 

The  Cordilleras  and  looked  down  upon 

The  blooming  lands  of  Central  Mexico, 

I  felt  assured  the  trap  would  hold  them  fast; 

But  all  these  frowning  forts  have  failed  to  check 

Th'  impetuous  charges  of  resistless  men. 

Chepultepec  was  carried  yesterday. 

Last  night,  in  darkness,  Santa  Ana  fled ; 

To-day  the  conquerors  come  marching  in. 

See  !     There  they  give  their  banner  to  the  breeze  ! 

What  men  they  are !     How  grandly  do  they  march  ! 

Would  I  could  see  them  battle  with  their  peers! 

That  would  be  war  well  worthy  of  the  name. 

Satan.  Mars,  you  shall  see  them  with  their  equals 

fight; 

Yes,  with  each  other  in  most  deadly  strife. 
Pillow  and  Twiggs  shall  battle  against  Scott, 
And  Scott  plan  campaigns  'gainst  his  native  State. 
These  West  Point  officers,  now  bosom  friends, 
Shall  marshal  mighty  hosts  with  wondrous  skill 
To  kill  each  other  upon  battle-fields. 
But  here  they  come:  Scott,  Butler,  Pillow,  Pierce,  , , 
Twiggs,  Worth,  Smith,  Shields,  and  gajlant  Colonel  Lee. 


150  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene :  San  Francisco,  Col.,  August  1, 1847.    RAPHAEL,  ARIEL,  ZE- 

PHON. 

Raphael.  Four  weeks  ago  in  far  off  Washington 
The  President,  most  fortunate  of  men, 
Announced  the  end  of  war  with  Mexico. 
Success  attends  his  steps  and  crowns  his  plans, 
Writing  in  lines  of  light  his  honored  name. 
Texas,  annexed,  war  Christianized  and  made 
A  blessing  to  the  men  who  brought  it  on, 
Has  been  successful  against  fearful  odds 
In  ev'ry  bloody  battle  that  was  fought. 
Peace  comes,  with  graceful  steps  and  smiling  face, 
To  bring  green  laurels  for  heroic  men 
Whom  he  sent  forth  to  champion  the  right; 
And  title  deeds  conveying  vast  domains, 
With  rocks  and  sands  glitt'ring  with  shining  gold, 
And  world-wide  oceans  from  which  commerce  comes, 
To  crown  his  country  empress  of  the  seas. 
There  is  the  Golden  Gate,  and  on  this  spot 
Old  Asia  shall  lay  tribute  at  her  feet. 
The  British  treaty  touched  the  threat'ning  cloud 
That  long  obscured  the  northern  boundary, 
Bore  its  fierce  "lightnings  harmless  to  the  deep," 
And  let  the  rays  of  friendship  light  the  scene. 
Four  States  have  been  admitted,  and  their  stars 
Are  now  emblazoned  brightly  on  the  flag: 
Fair  Florida,  Texas,  and  Iowa 
Stand  with  Wisconsin  in  the  Union  now. 

Ariel.  Raphael,  such  progress  never  has  been  made 
By  any  other  nation  in  four  years. 
Do  you  remember  Smithson's  gen'rous  gift  ? 
An  institution  bears  his  honored  name. 

Raphael.  I  do;  and  generations  yet  to  come 
Shall  own  their  obligations  and  give  thanks. 

Zephon.  Is  ther3  no  drawback  on  these  prosp'rous 

years, 
No  evil  to  subtract  from  all  the  good  ? 

Raphael.  No,  not  the  least,  except  that  chilly  death 


CLAY'S  COMPROMISE.  151 

Has  laid  his  hand  on  two  ex-Presidents : 
Jackson  and  Adams,  both  in  ripe  old  age, 
Host  from  their  labors  and  their  earthly  cares. 

Scene:   Washington,  D.  (?.,  September  19,  1850.    ABDIEL,  ITIIUKIEL, 
ARIEL. 

Abdiel.  Ho,  comrades  !  this  auspicious  day  calls  forth 
The  glad  congratulations  of  warm  hearts 
In  millions' of  this  country's  happy  homes. 
The  bow  of  hope  and  promise  spans  the  sky, 
Where  storms  were  gathering  and  thunders  rolled. 
Clay's  compromise,  adopted  yesterday, 
Brings  back  sweet  memories  of  by-gone  days, 
Ere  Satan  had  stirred  up  the  States  to  strife 
And  bade  fanatic  fury  vex  the  land. 
The  sections  once  so  rash  abide  in  peace, 
Encircled  by  the  links  of  love's  bright  chain. 
The  country  rings  with  cheerful,  joyful  words, 
Ascribing  highest  honors  to  the  names 
Of  Clay,  Cass,  Douglass,  Webster,  Bright,  and  Footc. 
Death  has  called  Taylor  to  an  honored  grave, 
But  Fillmore  worthily  fills  his  high  place. 
Happy  the  land  with  such  wise  rulers  blessed, 
And  its  fierce  factions  shamed  into  repose! 
See  Fillmore,  Webster,  Clay,  and  Crittenden, 
Bright,  Douglass,  Foote,  and  Cass,  and  Dickinson ! 
Praise  God,  praise  God  for  fearless  patriots ! 

Scene:  FaneuU  Hall,  Boston,  March  1, 1854.    SATAN,  BAAL,  MAM 
MON,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  More  than  three  years  ago  Clay's  compromise 
Hushed  the  rude  storms  that  darkened  all  this  land. 
Since  then  low  mutt'ring  thunder  has  been  heard, 
And  angry  lightnings  seen  along  the  sky. 
But  soon  a  deadly  cyclone  shall  come  down, 
Black  with  infernal  malice  and  fierce  wrath, 
To  overturn  and  desolate  and  crush 
All  it  encounters  in  its  furious  course. 
Yet  this  is  what  I've  long  desired  to  see. 

Baal.  Speak  plainly,  Satan,  let  us  understand, 
What  is  there  to  precipitate  this  storm  ? 


152  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Satan.  The  hatred  of  the  sections,  long  suppressed, 
Breaks  forth  to  rend  the  sky  and  shake  the  earth. 

Baal.  New  England's  clergy  pray  to  men,  not  God, 
For  help  against  "Steve  Douglass  and  Frank  Pierce." 
Were  they  not  born  upon  New  England  ground  ? 

Mammon.  They  were  !     New  England  has  110  truer 

sons. 
What  is  it  those  two  potent  men  propose? 

Satan.  Self-government  for  men  in  the  far  West. 
Baal.  Self-government?    For  that  their  fathers  fought. 

Satan.  'Twas  that  New  England  might  New  England 
rule. 

Baal.  Whom  would  they  have  to  rule  Nebraska  now? 

Satan.  Of  course,  New  England.     No,  her  clergymen, 
With  Sumner,  Chase,  Chandler,  and  Wade  to  help; 
Not  such  New  Eriglanders  as  Bancroft,  Morse, 
Hawthorne,  Pierce,  Cashing,  or  wise  Everett. 
They  e'en  lock  Webster  out  of  Faneuil  Hall. 
They  want  a  few  fanatics  and  their  dupes 
To  seize  the  helm  and  steer  the  ship  of  State. 
Their  plans  are  mine;  they  have  my  hearty  help. 

Baal.  They  want  to  see  "  black  feet  on  the  white  necks" 
Of  those  whose  fathers  broke  their  fathers'  yokes, 
Or  possibly  would  rather  kindle  flames 
To  burn  slave-holders  as  they  witches  burned. 

Belial.  Or  else  garrote  them,  as  the  Cubans  did 
My  friend  Lopez,  who  went  to  set  them  free; 
Or  shoot  them  by  the  millions  in  cold  blood, 
And  San  Domingoize  their  lovely  land. 

Satan.  Belial,  there  shall  be  work  enough  for  you 
And  all  your  cronies  when  the  war  shall  come, 
As  come  it  must  in  a  few  stormy  months. 
Insults  and  outrages  shall  stir  the  South 
Till  Southerners  will  haughtily  withdraw, 
In  supercilious  pride  to  dwell  apart. 


THE  OCEAN  TELEGRAPH.  153 

Scene:  Battery,  New  York,  August,  1858.    ARIEL, URIEL. 

Ariel.  Angelic  rapture  joins  with  human  joy 
In  this  great  city  on  this  glorious  day. 
The  telegraph  connects  two  hemispheres. 
Its  messages  outspeed  the  flight  of  time, 
And  leave  the  rapid  rays  of  light  behind. 
These  people  are  the  wonder  of  the  world ! 
'Twas  here  the  Crystal  Palace  grandly  rose; 
From  here  brave  Perry  sailed  to  far  Japan, 
Unlocking  its  hid  treasures  for  mankind. 
From  here  went  Ingram  who,  with  threat'ning  guns, 
Compelled  the  Austrians  to  release  Koszta. 

Uriel.  This  nation  is  indeed  to  be  admired. 
'Tis  blessed  of  God  and  envied  by  mankind. 
The  product  of  her  mines  a  single  year 
Would  pay  for  Cuba,  if  old  Spain  would  sell. 
Her  fields  would  feed  the  millions  of  the  world, 
And  clothe  them  in  clean  garments  day  by  day. 
Her  sons  have  rescued  Britons  near  the  pole, 
And  conquered  Mormons  in  the  Western  wilds. 
But  see,  there's  Cyrus  Field,  Morse,  Vandcrbilt, 
Bryant,  and  Greeley,  Bennett,  Beccher,  Tweed. 

Scene :  Harper's  Ferry,  Va.,  1851).    GABRIEL,  ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL, 
URIEL. 

Abdiel.  What  mean  these  crowds  of  grave,  indignant 
men? 

Gabriel.  The  most  atrocious  of  all  fiendish  crimes 
Was  here  committed  by  a  wretch  named  Brown; 
A  crime  involving  treason,  murder,  theft, 
Ecbellion,  kidnapping,  and  robbery, 
Loading  to  arson,  rape,  and  bloody  war. 

Tthuriel.  Yet,  strange  to  say,  outside  of  prison  walls 
And  lunatic  asylums  there  are  found 
Not  a  few  kindred  spirits  who,  less  brave, 
Would  canonize  John  Brown  their  patron  saint, 
Write  poetry  and  sing  most  warlike  songs 
In  honor  of  his  name  so  infamous! 


154 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 


Brown  and  his  guilty  gang  are  to  be  hanged 
To-day,  before  the  setting  of  the  sun. 

Uriel.  Of  course  such  criminals  must  suffer  death. 
Do  not  all  people  execrate  such  deeds? 

Gabriel.  No;  hatred  of  the  sections  longs  for  blood. 
This  country  has  become  two  hostile  camps. 
Grave  Senators  of  mighty  sovereign  States, 
Sage  judges  of  most  honored  civil  courts, 
Poets  of  sweetest  song  and  world-wide  fame, 


HARPER'S  FERRY. 

Fair  ladies,  loveliest  of  Adam's  race, 

And  even  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ 

Would  gladly  share  the  guilt  of  old  John  Brown, 

But  for  the  fear  that  they  would  have  to  hang. 

They  share  his  hate,  but  not  his  bravery. 

Abdiel.  "Where  is  the  grateful,  patriotic  love 
That  warmed  all  hearts  when  Boston  was  relieved, 
And  saw  the  British  yield  to  Washington? 
Where  the  benevolent  affection  seen 


CONGRESS  A  BATTLE-FIELD.  iOO 

When  Cornwallis  surrendered  at  Yorktown  ? 
Where  is  the  confidence  that  was  displayed 
When  Washington  the  oath  of  office  took? 

Gabriel.  All,  all  are  gone.     They're  driven  from  the 

land, 
Banished  by  jealousy  and  slain  by  hate. 

AbdieL  Are  all  the  people  thus  antagonized  ? 
Does  hellish  malice  burn  in  ev'ry  heart? 

Gabriel.  No ;  not  one  man  in  twenty  thirsts  for  blood. 
Abdiel.  How  then  can  twenty  be  controlled  by  one? 

Gabriel.  The  twenty  seek  for  pleasure,  ease,  or  wealth, 
And  trouble  not  themselves  with  politics, 
Except  to  vote  as  prompted  by  the  one. 
The  one,  an  active  fosterling  of  hell, 
Is  leagued  with  Satan  to  divide  the  States. 
He  makes  himself  a  champion  of  the  North 
Against  the  hateful  people  of  the  South, 
Whose  monstrous  sin  it  is  to  own  some  slaves, 
Sold  to  their  fathers  by  this  champion's  sire. 
Of  course  the  South  has  champions  of  its  own, 
Ready  to  battle  for  its  right  to  slaves, 
As  guaranteed  by  Northern  patriots. 
Thus  halls  of  Congress  now  are  battle-fields 
Where  North  and  South  contend  for  mastery. 
When  Cavaliers  met  Puritans  in  fight, 
Rupert  and  Cromwell  were  not  fiercer  foes. 
Each  of  the  sections  has  a  selfish  few 
Who  climb  to  office  by  the  help  of  hate. 
They  battle  for  their  section  or  their  State 
With  noisy,  boastful  insolence  and  strife. 
These  noisy  watch-dogs  always  snap  and  snarl 
Most  spitefully  against  the  South  or  North, 
Claiming  that  all  who  do  not  bark  with  them 
Are  foes  to  God  and  traitors  to  their  State. 
The  multitude,  misled  by  angry  tones, 
Bark  for  their  section  or  their  sovereign  State. 
The  evil  is  infectious.     Demagogues 
Successfully  employ  the  same  bad  trick, 


156  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  feign  the  hatred  which  they  never  felt. 

State  after  State  has  fallen  into  line, 

And  marches  with  its  section  to  the  polls, 

Till  soon  fanaticism,  seizing  power, 

Will  marshal  twenty  States  against  thirteen, 

And  force  each  citizen  to  serve  his  State. 

A  thousand  mad  men  thus  may  drive  to  war 

The  thirty  millions  of  the  peaceable, 

And  deluge  this  fair  land  with  kindred  blood. 

Uriel.  Was  there  a  compact  made  in  eighty-seven 
To  keep  the  slaves  from  treading  Western  soit? 

Gabriel.  James  Madison  says  no.     The  ordinance 
Of  eighty-seven  was  not  authorized 
By  sovereign  States,  and  had  no  legal  force 
To  bind  the  people  longer  than  they  chose. 
Cass  says  there  was  no  party  to  contract 
Or  make  a  compact  with  the  old  Congress. 
It  was  a  simple  act,  and  nothing  more, 
And  was  not  binding  on  the  Western  States. 

Uriel.  What  of  the  compromise  of  twenty-one? 

Gabriel.  That  was  without  the  slightest  legal  force. 
'Twas  the  hard  hand  of  King  Majority, 
Stripping  the  Southern  section  of  its  rights, 
Breaking  the  treaty  made  with  Bonaparte. 
'Twas  robbery  submitted  to  for  peace, 
So  must  the  courts  decide  when  called  to  judge. 
But  the  strong-handed  North  did  ostracize 
All  of  their  men  who  made  that  compromise. 

Uriel.  Why  then  do  they  complain  of  its  repeal? 

Gabriel.  Sheer  selfishness  constrains  them  to  that 

course. 

When  'twas  proposed  to  run  on  that  known  line 
Across  the  continent,  and  give  the  South 
The  land  below  it,  they  would  not  consent. 

Abdiel.  What  is  it,  then,  they  want  ?     What  can  be 
done 


STATESMANSHIP  OF  HATE.  157 

To  satisfy  the  statesmanship  of  hate  ? 

Is  there  no  remedy  fqj-  this  disease 

That  blinds  men  to  their  own  best  interests, 

That  darkens  understandings,  hardens  hearts, 

And  overturns  all  sense  of  right  and  wrong? 

Gabriel.  They  want  all  they  can  get,  but  most  of  all 
A  separation  from  all  slave-holders, 
And  to  see  negroes  cut  their  masters'  throats, 
And  lustfully  defile  their  masters'  homes. 
But  see,  there  is  the  Governor  and  staff, 
And  there  is  Colonel  Eobert  Edward  Lee, 
And  the  brave  soldiers  under  his  command; 
And  there  the  sheriff-executioner. 
The  penalty  of  law  will  be  enforced, 
But  the  most  guilty  have  not  yet  been  caught. 


BOOK  EIGHTH. 


Scene:  Cliarleslon, S.  C.,  December  25,  1860.    ABDIEL,  RAPHAEL, 
ARIEL,  URIEL. 

Ariel.  On  this  glad  day  men  celebrate  with  joy 
The  advent  of  the  Lord  in  human  form. 
We  join  them,  saying:  "  Glory  be  to  God, 
Peace  on  the  earth,  good-will  to  all  mankind." 

Uriel.  Yet  'twas  but  yesterday  that  this  great  State, 
Kcsolved  to  leave  the  Union  in  hot  haste, 
Dissolving  all  the  loving  ties  that  bound 
These  three  and  thirty  sovereign  States  in  one. 

Raphael.  Yes,  and  'tis  said  twelve  more  will  soon  secede 
And  in  a  new  confederation  join. 

Uriel.  Can  it  be  wise  the  Union  to  dissolve? 
Have  they  the  right  thus  to  withdraw  at  will? 

Abdiel.  You  ask  two  questions.     I  will  answer  both. 
'Tis  most  unwise.     'Tis  'gainst  the  Lord's  decree, 
As  written  on  his  valleys,  mountains,  plains, 
And  certified  by  every  plant  that  grows. 
Each  section  raises  what  the  other  needs; 
Each  varying  plant  for  union  ever  pleads. 
Disunion  is  impracticable  too, 
So  say  the  rivers,  lakes,  and  gulfs  and  seas, 
And  so  the  waves  and  storms  of  oceans  say. 
Domestic  commerce  asks  to  be  left  free 
T'  enrich  all  sections  with  its  benefits. 
Disunion  soon  will  lead  to  border  wars, 
And  standing  armies  to  enslave  the  States. 

Uriel.  'Tis  to  avoid  bad  neighbors  they  secede, 
And  to  prevent  continued  drain  of  wealth 
From  Southern  States  to  people  of  the  North. 
(158) 


FOLLY  OF  SECESSION.  159 

Abdiel.  Let  us  suppose  all  that  they  say  is  true: 
That  "  navigation  laws,"  "  State  debts  assumed," 
"A  chartered  bank"  took  money  from  the  South; 
That  tariffs  drained  its  wealth  from  year  to  year; 
That  Southern  cities  dwindle  and  lose  trade, 
While  millions  crowd  the  cities  of  the  North, 
And  millionaires  build  splendid  palaces. 
Admit  injustice  done  to  Southern  States 
By  legislation  on  the  public  lands. 
For  argument  say  swindling  has  prevailed 
In  all  the  dealings  of  the  North  with  slaves; 
Say  blacks  were  swindled  out  of  liberty, 
The  South  was  swindled  into  buying  them, 
With  pledges  that  the  North  would  well  protect 
Their  right  of  ownership  and  would  send  back 
All  fugitives  that  might  escape  to  them; 
That  Southern  men  were  guaranteed  the  right 
To  vote  for  three  in  five  that  they  woiild  buy; 
Say  that  the  thrifty  North  received  and  kept 
Payment  in  full  for  all  it  gave  the  South, 
Then  quickly  broke  the  contract  that  it  made, 
And  will  still  break  it  to  the  end  of  time; 
Add  that  a  certain  faction  in  the  North 
Is  most  unjust  to  Southern  gentlemen, 
And  most  disgusting  to  their  high-bred  tastes. 
For  argument,  admit  that  this  is  true. 
Disunion  will  but  complicate  all  ills; 
War  multiply  them  twice  ten  thousand  fold. 
The  selfishness  of  sections  may  cause  loss 
In  many  ways  of  legal  robbery, 
But  twice  ten  thousand  years  of  peaceful  theft 
Would  cause  less  damage  than  one  year  of  war. 
As  to  those  most  offensive  gentlemen. 
From  whom  these  Southrons  shrink  instinctively 
With  utter  loathing  and  supreme  contempt, 
If  under  constitutional  restraints 
They  are  so  disagreeable  and  bad, 
What  is  to  make  them  amiable  and  kind 
When  those  restraints  no  longer  hold  them  back? 
If  legal  swindling  makes  the  Southland  poor, 
What  must  it  lose  when  hatred's  backed  by  force? 


160 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 


Disunion  offers  not  the  least  relief 
From  any  wrongs  the  suff'ring  South  endures; 
But  by  the  force  of  State  rights  principles 
Compels  its  honest  friends  to  join  its  foes. 
Resistance  in  the  Union  against  wrong 
Would  have  been  safer  under  the  old  flag. 


ALEXANDER   H.  STEPHENS. 

The  South  has  more  true  friends  in  the  free  States 
Than  can  be  found  in  all  the  world  besides. 
Disunion  gives  to  Satan  all  he  asks 
To  work  the  desolation  of  these  States. 

Uriel.  Now  tell  us,  is  secession  a  State  right? 
Have  they  the  right  thus  to  withdraw  at  will? 


HAMILTON  ASKED  TO  LEAD  SECEDEBS.  161 

Abdiel.  They  think  they  have,  and  so  have  others 

thought. 

The  infant  West  while  yet  in  swaddling-bands, 
So  threatened  when  the  East,  with  selfish  greed, 
Would  trade  away  her  pathway  to  the  gulf 
For  small  advantages  to  its  own  trade. 
The  East  contended  for  the  self-same  right, 
When  Jefferson  became  the  President, 
And  when  Louisiana  was  acquired, 
When  the  embargo  law  obstructed  trade, 
They  asked  great  Hamilton  to  lead  them  out 
And  form  a  nation  with  its  southern  line       • 
Along  the  Hudson  or  the  Delaware ; 
But  he  refused  to  join  them  and  secede. 
John  Henry  came  with  loving  messages, 
Proposing  union  with  the  Canadas 
Under  his  gracious  Majesty,  King  George. 
Near  the  green  turf  where  Warren's  ashes  slept, 
They  listened  with  the  most  intense  delight, 
Though  Bunker  Hill  frowned  grimly  all  the  while. 
Then  came  the  war.     The  country,  unprepared, 
Required  the  help  of  all  her  patriot  sons 
Against  tho  foe  their  fathers  bravely  fought. 
But  can  it  be  believed  men  of  sound  minds 
Talked  gravely  in  convention  of  the  need 
That  sovereign  States  should,  in  the  midst  of  war, 
Obstruct  the  work  of  their  own  government 
In  its  heroic  battle  for  the  right. 
Yes,  the  great  North,  through  the  last  sixty  years, 
Has  often  boldly  threatened  to  withdraw. 
It  threatened  when  new  Southern  States  came  in ; 
When  tariffs  for  protection  were  repealed ; 
When  the  great  State  of  Texas  was  annexed; 
When  Mexico  made  war  against  tho  States; 
When  peace  was  made  and  much  new  land  acquired; 
And  last,  not  least,  since  in  these  later  years 
The  Constitution  to  the  North  has  seemed 
"A  league  with  death,  a  covenant  with  hell." 
Their  statesmen  said  the  Union  could  not  last 
With  some  free  States  and  others  holding  slaves; 
Yet  it  had  lasted  more  than  fourscore  years, 
11 


162  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

From  Washington  and  Warren  to  the  time 
When  this  fierce  faction  claimed  the  government. 

Uriel.  What  said  the  men  who  made  this  covenant? 

Abdiel.  They  claimed  the  right  of  States  to  interpose 
For  the  protection  of  their  citizens 
Against  encroachments  of  the  Fed'ral  pow'r; 
Would  grant  no  right  to  make  war  on  the  States, 
Were  horror-stricken  at  the  dreadful  thought 
Of  military  force  to  coerce  States. 
Perpetual  union  was  what  they  desired, 
But  feared  'twas  utterly  impossible. 
They  died  deploring  animosities 
Of  section  against  section  then  at  work 
To  overturn  the  Union  they  had  formed. 
They  claimed  the  right  to  revolutionize 
Against  all  governmental  tyranny, 
And  in  their  States  saw  the  best  means  at  hand 
For  overturning  fed'ral  despotism, 
Hence  would  not  give  their  fed'ral  government 
Authority  to  war  against  the  States. 
The  advocates  of  a  strong  government 
Never  demanded  such  authority. 
The  States  would  not  consent  to  make  a  thing 
To  arm  their  citizens  against  themselves, 
To  plan  "A  union  pinned  by  bayonets." 
Such  was  the  union  Britain  had  to  give. 

Uriel.  You  say  the  Union  never  gained  the  righl 
To  coerce  States  and  force  them  to  submit? 

Abdiel.  No,  never.     It  has  troops  to  rise  in  arms 
And  bravely  conquer  all  its  foreign  foes, 
Troops  to  aid  Governors  of  sovereign  States 
When  they  in  need  apply  for  fed'ral  help, 
Troops  to  suppress  by  force  anarchic  mobs 
And  drive  fierce  Indians  off  from  frontier  homes. 
To  enforce  its  laws,  its  courts  have  officers; 
But  to  make  war  upon  a  sovereign  State 
The  fathers  never  did  nor  would  consent. 
The  Union  has  no  soldier  for  that  use. 


NO  SOLDIERS   TO  COERCE  STA2ES.  1G3 

Uriel.  But  what  if  war  is  made  upon  a  State? 

Abdiel.  'Twould  be  subversion  of  the  government, 
And  despotism  on  its  ruins  built. 

Uriel.  What  if  some  States  should  subjugate  the  rest, 
And  forcibly  compel  them  to  submit? 

Abdiel.  It  would  be  such  an  instance  of  bad  faith, 
So  base  a  blow  at  honesty  and  truth, 
Such  loud  assertion  that  'tis  might  makes  right, 
As  to  strike  down  morality  and  faith. 

Uriel.  But  is  the  Union  a  mere  rope  of  sand, 
To  be  dissolved  by  waves  of  discontent? 

Abdiel.  No,  no.     'Twas  formed  and  lives  by  compro 
mise. 

Morris  and  Hamilton  said  it  would  take 
With  its  strong  hand  the  pow'rs  that  were  denied; 
But  if  it  does,  'twill  overthrow  good  faith 
And  trample  moral  honor  in  the  dust. 
A  nation's  immorality  will  spread 
Its  rank  contagion  widely  through  the  land, 
Tainting  all  classes  with  dishonor's  breath, 
Corrupting  both  the  lofty  and  the  low, 
And  teaching  all  to  swindle  and  deceive, 
From  tricks  of  trade,  adulterating  food, 
Or  selling  shoddy  for  good  woolen  cloth, 
To  the  divorce  court's  vile  indecencies; 
Among  the  lowly  and  among  the  proud; 
Smutching  the  reputations  of  high  life, 
The  beauteous  wives  and  daughters  of  the  great, 
The  brilliant  Senators,  the  chief  divines; 
From  buying  votes  to  buying  Congressmen, 
Or  seats  for  millionaires  in  Senate  halls; 
From  stealing  money,  lands,  and  stocks  and  bonds, 
To  stealing  railroads,  churches,  or  in  time 
May  even  steal  the  presidency  too. 
Such  retributions  nations  overtake ! 

Uriel.  You  say  the  Union  lives  by  compromise. 


164  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Without  the  use  of  military  force 

Can  selfish  men  be  held  by  such  a  bond? 

Abdiel.  They've  been  so  held  for  more  than  fourscore 

years, 
And  ought  to  be  till  time  itself  shall  end. 

Ariel.  But  if  a  war  ensues,  where  rests  the  blame? 

Raphael.  The  hatreds  of  the  sections  cause  the  strife. 
Divide  the  blame  between  them  as  you  will. 
But  the  rash  faction  that's  to  rule  the  North 
Is  in  itself  a  menace  to  the  South. 
'Tis  revolution  organized,  at  work, 
To  overthrow  the  union  of  the  States 
And  subjugate  the  South  to  Northern  whims. 
No  hour  has  passed  since  the  first  Congress  met 
In  which  its  principles,  if  dominant, 
Would  not  have  given  the  Union  to  the  winds. 
The  founders  of  the  faction  knew  it  well, 
Intended  it,  and  boast  about  it  now. 

Ariel.  Will  this  division  now  take  place  in  peace? 

Raphael.  I  fear  not.     Hatred  drives  to  bloody  deeds. 
The  factions  climbed  to  office  upon  hate; 
They  lose  their  places  if  men  cease  to  hate. 
In  many  things  both  of  them  are  quite  wrong: 
Wrong  in  their  hatreds,  in  their  love  of  war, 
In  their  abusive  words  and  boasting  threats: 
The  North  most  wicked  in  its  breach  of  faith, 
Its  breaking  of  the  covenant  it  made ; 
The  South  most  wicked  in  its  haughty  pride, 
Most  silly  in  deciding  to  secede. 
The  North  dishonest  in  kidnapping  slaves, 
Doubly  dishonest  when  it  set  them  free, 
When  with  their  masters  it  had  contracted 
To  guarantee  their  right  of  ownership. 
Yet,  if  it  wished  to  see  some  slaves  go  free, 
There  was  an  honest,  honorable  way. 
To  purchase  and  emancipate  was  work 
That  Southern  men  had  shown  them  how  to  do. 
This  broke  no  treaties,  trampled  on  no  pledge, 


THE  PEACE  CONGRESS.  165 

Disturbed  no  peace,  paid  back  the  price  of  blood. 
If  fight  they  must  to  kill  some  slave-holders, 
Turks,  Russians,  Cubans  worthy  of  their  steel, 
Are  not  far  off  in  these  fast  days  of  steam. 
Hotspurs  and  Quixotes  may  their  millions  slay, 
Nor  violate  one  word  of  plighted  faith, 
Such  as  they're  bound  by  to  Americans. 

Scene:  Capitol,   Washington,  D.  C.,  March  80,   1861.    MICHAEL, 
GABRIEL. 

Gabriel.  The  evil  that  we  feared  confronts  us  now. 
For  more  than  twenty  days  these  mighty  States 
Have  been  controlled  by  a  minority, 
Whose  hold  on  pow'r  cannot  continue  long 
Unless  they  manage  to  provoke  a  war 
And  revolutionize  the  government. 
This  rampant  faction  has  been  born  of  hate, 
And  fed  on  malice  from  its  earliest  hours. 
The  milk  of  human  kindness  in  a  day 
Would  neutralize  the  venom  in  its  fangs, 
But  now  its  horrid  mother  screams  for  blood 
To  gratify  the  longings  of  her  brood. 

Michael.  Has  naught  been  done,  can  nothing  now  bo 

done 
To  counteract  this  bloody-mindedness? 

Gabriel.  Virginia  grandly  rose  in  majesty 
To  lay  her  kindly  hand  on  maddened  States, 
And  urge  them  to  dismiss  their  enmities. 
Kentucky  pleaded  well  for  unity. 
A  great  Peace  Congress  met  at  Washington 
To  plead  for  moderation,  peace,  and  love. 
The  mad-caps  of  the  South  had  left  in  haste, 
Not  knowing  what  the  Peace  Congress  would  ask, 
Nor  what  the  selfish  faction  of  the  North 
Would  condescend  to  grant  or  to  deny. 
That  faction  held  the  purse  and  swayed  the  sword. 
It  chose  to  be  defiant,  and  to  drive 
The  friends  of  union  from  them  in  despair. 
The  kindly  heart  of  the  new  President 
Gave  the  peace-makers  many  anecdotes, 


166  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Refined  or  rustic,  chaste  or  otherwise, 

And  wondered  that  they  blushed  but  did  not  laugh. 

His  fiercer  followers,  with  threat' ning  oaths, 

Demanded  "blood-letting"  and  nothing  less; 

AVhile  the  least  furious,  the  mild,  the  kind, 

Insisted  that  the  South  be  northernized — 

If  not  that  day,  at  least  in  a  short  time. 

Slaves  must  be  free,  and  slave-holders  condemned, 

In  spite  of  constitutional  compacts: 

Laws,  habits,  tastes,  judgments,  and  consciences, 

Or  evil  consequences  to  ensue. 

They  washed  their  saintly  hands  in  innocence 

Of  their  forefathers'  trades  that  made  them  rich, 

Forgot  "  the  bargain  "  by  which  they  for  slaves 

Obtained  wealth  greater  than  "Peru's  rich  mines." 

Their  contracts  with  slave-holders  could  not  bind 

The  consciences  of  such  malignant  saints. 

Their  horror-stricken  souls  would  flee  in  haste 

From  slavery's  contaminating  touch. 

Pinckney  or  Gadsden  or  great  Washington 

If  ent'ring  the  abodes  of  those  rash  men, 

Would  so  defile  the  sacred  sanctity 

Of  the  old  union  it  must  be  purged  pure ; 

So  sober  Southerners  indignant  turned, 

Solemn  and  sad  with  dignity,  to  join 

Their  fierce  compatriots  of  the  farther  South. 

Michael.  Will  war  ensue,  or  will  they  part  in  peace? 

Gabriel.  The  Southern  States  desire  to  go  in  peace, 
And  claim  the  right  to  separate  at  will. 
The  faction  that  now  rules  claimed  the  same  right 
As  their  forefathers  have  for  sixty  years. 

Michael.  Then  peace  and  love  should  evermore  prevail. 

Gabriel.  Peace  might  prevail,  but  never,  never  love. 
Because  of  hate  they  long  have  wished  them  gone; 
But  if  the  Southern  States  depart  in  peace, 
This  faction  dies  for  having  driv'n  them  off. 
If  it  can  fill  tho  land  with  bloody  war, 
It  may  live  on  through  evil  years  to  come 
And  wreak  its  vengeance  on  both  North  and  South. 


PAPER  GUARANTEES.  167 

To  slay  a  million  of  Americans, 

And  waste  ten  billions  of  the  nation's  wealth 

In  gratifying  malice,  would  be  deeds 

Such  as  no  other  faction  could  achieve, 

Such  deeds  as  might  throughout  all  time  to  come 

Immortalize  the  statesmanship  of  hate. 

Michael.  How  is  it  that  such  things  arc  possible 
Under  a  government  by  Christians  made  ? 

Gabriel.  This  is  one  government  by  thirteen  made. 
Each  of  the  thirteen  was  a  sovereign  State. 
It  now  is  one  of  thirty-three  composed — 
Say  thirty-three  republics  joined  in  one. 
Each  of  the  thirteen  was  a  sovereign  State: 
Not  one  would  yield  its  claim  to  sovereignty; 
Yet  each  agreed  to  clothe  with  potent  sway 
A  fed'ral  government  embracing  all. 
They  would  not  give  it  pow'r  to  coerce  States, 
But  let  it  rule  their  citizens  at  will, 
And  said  that  rule  should  be  perpetual, 
Under  perpetual  union  of  the  States. 
And  then  they  gave  to  it  both  purse  and  sword. 
And  tied  its  hands  with  handsome  paper  twine, 
Called  muniments  of  English  liberty, 
And  said  each  State  was  guardian  of  its  rights, 
And  of  the  rights  of  all  its  citizens; 
Yet  pointed  out  no  way  by  which  in  peace 
The  States  could  interpose  to  save  their  rights.  * 

The  fathers  gave  too  little,  or  too  much, 
To  the  great  central  pow'r  the  States  set  up. 
Wise  Samuel  Adams  said  they  gave  too  much, 
And  Patrick  Henry,  with  a  prophet's  voice, 
Foretold  the  coming  evils  he  foresaw. 
Morris  and  Hamilton  demanded  more, 
And  said  that  it  would  take  what  was  denied. 

Michael.  But  what  has  that  to  do  with  bloody  strife? 

Gabriel.  With  less  of  pow'r,  the  States  had  been  left  free 
From  dread  of  fed'ral  force  and  tyranny; 
With  more,  resistance  never  would  be  risked. 


168  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Now,  a  fierce  faction,  less  than  half  the  North, 
Drives  off  the  South  with  its  insulting  threats, 
And  may  use  force  to  drive  them  back  again. 
If  so,  a  sort  of  double  sovereignty 
Makes  traitors  of  the  best  of  citizens; 
Owing  allegiance  to  his  native  State, 
And  through  it  to  the  gen'ral  government, 
When  they  agree  the  citizen  is  safe. 
But  if  the  State  secedes,  and  arms  her  sons, 
And  men  at  Washington  deny  her  right, 
Then  treason  dooms  the  citizens  to  death, 
In  spite  of  the  most  loving  loyalty 
To  both  authorities  that  claim  his  life. 

Michael.  How  stands  the  President  upon  that  point? 

Gabriel.  States  to  the  fed'ral  government,  with  him, 
Are  but  as  counties  are  to  sovereign  States. 
I  fear  he  would  make  war  upon  a  State 
Retiring  from  the  Union  as  of  right, 
With  no  more  hesitation  than  a  State 
Would  subjugate  a  county  in  revolt. 
'Tis  possible  that  he  has  never  learned 
The  principles  on  which  the  Union's  formed. 
The  fire-brands  of  his  faction  are  disposed 
With  ready  hands  to  light  the  flames  of  war. 
I  fear  that  he  will  listen  to  their  schemes, 
And  suffer  them  to  glut  themselves  with  blood. 

Michael.  But  will  the  peaceful  people  let  them  fight? 

Gabriel.  They'll  wait  until  some  Hotspur  of  the  South 
Can  be  provoked  to  fire  upon  the  flag; 
Then  call  for  men  to  rally  to  their  help, 
Defending  the  bright  banner  of  the  free. 
An  army  well  in  hand  can  be  increased 
In  many  ways  in  spite  of  discontent. 
The  fearful  will  be  scared  into  its  ranks, 
The  brave  will  rush  to  prove  their  bravery, 
Ambitious  men  to  fight  their  way  to  fame, 
The  poor  for  bread,  thieves  for  the  chance  to  steal. 
It's  therefore  possible — yes,  probable — 


BOMBARDMENT  OF  FORT  SUMTER. 


169 


That  cruel  war  will  desolate  this  land. 
Look !     There,  see  Chandler,  Bingham,  Giddings,  Wade, 
Thad.  Stevens,  Sumner,  Cameron,  Seward,  Chase, 
They  are  the  men  to  curse  or  bless  mankind. 

Scene:  Charleston,  8.   C.,  April  12,  1861.    SATAN,  MAES,  BAAL, 
MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  The  long  expected  moment  has  arrived, 
When  war  goes  forth  with  desolating  hand. 
The  Hotspurs  of  the  South  have  long  proclaimed 
That  one  can  whip  six  Northern  men  with  ease; 


FORT  SUMTER. 

While  boastful  Northern  men  are  confident 

That  they  in  ninety  days  can  whip  the  South. 

Both  have  for  years  been  "  spoiling  for  a  fight." 

They  have  it  now.     Let  them  make  good  their  boasts. 

This  firing  on  the  flag  will  fire  all  hearts, 

And  unify  the  North  against  the  South. 

'Twill  make  the  South  a  battle-field  for  years, 

And  every  boy  a  soldier  for  his  State. 

What  say  you,  Mars,  have  I  not  kept  my  word? 


170  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Mars.  You  have.     You  have  redeemed  your  promises. 

Satan.  Go,  then,  and  gather  millions  for  the  fray. 
Bring  them  from  ev'ry  corner  of  this  laud. 
From  Europe,  Asia,  Africa,  the  isles, 
And  from  profoundest  depths  of  hellish  gloom 
Go,  Baal,  call  forth  all  your  followers. 
Bring  murder,  arson,  lust,  and  villainy 
Of  every  type  that  earth  has  ever  known. 

Baal.  I  will!  I  will!  I  will!  your  Majesty; 
And  some  that  hell  itself  has  yet  to  learn. 

Satan.  Mammon,  go  summon  all  your  employees. 
Let  them  serve  legions  of  camp-followers, 
Robbers  and  thieves  by  thousands  in  the  ranks, 
And  captains,  colonels,  gen'rals  by  the  score, 
With  now  and  then  a  chaplain  gone  astray, 
Or  a  grave  senator  or  sober  judge, 
Hast'ning  on  higher  plunder  to  get  rich. 
Say,  Mammon,  are  you  ready  for  your  work  ? 

Mammon.  I  am  !  I  am!  my  high  and  mighty  prince ! 

Satan.  Belial,  your  children  call  to  their  base  work, 
On  battle-fields,  in  camps,  or  in  the  homes 
Of  soldiers  far  away  from  wife  and  child. 
Stir  up  the  slaves  to  lust,  theft,  robbery; 
Invent  new  follies,  vices,  sins,  and  crimes. 

Belial.  Trust  mo  to  do  my  part,  most  potent  prince. 
The  world  shall  bo  astounded  at  our  deeds. 

Satan.  Go,  comrades,  drench  this  Christian  land  with 

blood 

By  Christians  shed  in  fratricidal  strife. 
Rest  not  till  millions  heave  their  dying  groans, 
Till  widows  wail  and  helpless  orphans  cry 
In  twice  five  hundred  thousand  Christian  homes. 
Hark!  hark!  the  thunder  of  the  bombardment 
Grows  louder,  more  terrific  than  before. 
Fort  Sumter  is  in  ruins  !  it  must  fall — 


BATTLE   OF  MAN  ASS  AS.  171 

The  garrison  comes  forth  with  honors  crowned. 

There's  Beauregard,  the  victor  in  this  tight, 

There  Anderson,  and  Jeff  C.  Davis  too, 

And  all  their  brave  compatriots  in  arms. 

This  mad  attack  of  Southrons  on  the  flag 

Is  to  the  ruling  faction  of  the  North 

News  far  too  good  to  be  regarded  true 

Until  they  have  it  carefully  confirmed; 

But  when  believed,  they'll  loose  the  dogs  of  war 

To  wreak  terrific  vengeance  on  the  South. 

Scene :  Manassas  Junction,  Fa.,  July  21,  1861.    MARS,  SATAN, 
BAAL,  MAMMON. 

Mars.  Where  are  the  battles  and  the  slaughtered  hosts 
You  spoke  of  when  we  met  at  Charleston  last? 
The  city  mob  shot  men  in  Baltimore. 
Magruder  slew  a  few  at  Bethel  Church ; 
Morris,  at  Philippi,  drove  Southern  men 
As  Wallace  did  at  Eomney.     Blood  was  shed 
When  Garnet  met  McClellan,  and  was  slain. 
Rich  Mountain  saw  a  Fed'ral  victory, 
As  did  Cheat  River  near  to  Carricksford. 
We  have  had  skirmishes  and  swift  retreats, 
But  nothing  worthy  of  the  name  of  war. 

SiJtan.  Be  patient,  Mars,  great  armies  meet  to-day, 
Led  by  West  Pointers  upon  either  side, 
Who  will  not  suffer  skulking  to  be  done 
By  low-life  cowards  or  by  carpet-knights, 
Or  pot-house  politicians  in  the  garb 
Of  brigadier  or  major  generals. 
At  Washington  this  is  a  gala  day. 
So  confident  of  victory  are  they 
That  thousands  come  to  see  men  play  at  war. 
Then  "On  to  Richmond  "  with  but  slight  delay! 

Baal.  Hark  !     Listen  to  the  cannon's  thund'ring  roar! 
See  overwhelming  legions  rushing  on 
To  crush  thin  lines  of  soldiers  dressed  in  gray! 
Vast  numbers  will  outflank  on  either  hand 
The  worn  and  weary  Southern  chivalry. 


172  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Satan.  What  troops  are  those  approaching  from  the 
West? 

Mars.  That  is  Joe  Johnston  bringing  into  line 
Six  thousand  warriors  who  have  just  arrived. 
What  men  they  are!     Such  blood,  such  bravery ! 
Such  moral  force  has  never  been  surpassed. 
The  heterogeneous  masses  of  their  foes 
Must  flee  or  fall  beneath  the  banded  might 
That  fights  as  if  one  will  inspired  them  all. 
They  conquer.     Eegulars  and  volunteers, 
The  " city  roughs,"  "  society's  elite" 
Grave  Senators  and  gifted  Congressmen, 
All  panic-stricken,  in  confusion  mixed, 
With  one  desire — to  enter  Washington. 

Satan.  What  next?  what  next?    Tell  me,  thou  God  of 
warl 

Mars.  On,  on  to  Washington,  with  haste  and  speed, 
To  strengthen  its  intrenchments,  and  call  out 
All  Northern  troops  to  fight  in  its  defense! 

Satan.  What  should  Confederates  do  at  such  a  time? 

Mars.  Capture  their  routed  foes,  or  shoot  them  down; 
Strike  Washington  while  yet  the  panic  lasts; 
Seize  forts  and  arms  and  ammunition  there, 
The  railroads  and  the  shipping  in  the  port; 
Capture  the  President  and  cabinet, 
The  Congress  and  all  other  officers; 
Take  Baltimore,  enlist  its  citizens; 
Hasten  to  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
Boston  and  other  cities  of  the  East; 
Call  out  the  rabble,  arm  them  for  the  fight, 
And  give  them  Southern  rulers  for  some  days, 
Till  the  whole  South  could  hasten  to  the  North  ; 
Then,  turning  back,  meet  the  on-coming  crowds 
Of  Western  soldiers  at  well-chosen  points; 
Fight,  or  negotiate,  as  best  might  suit. 

Satan.  A  Caesar  or  Napoleon  might  do  that, 
With  half  the  friends  the  South  has  in  the  North, 


THE  SOUTH  DEMANDS  SEPARATION.  173 

Or  half  the  haters  of  the  men  who  rule; 

But  it  suits  not  the  temper  of  the  South 

To  conquer  and  to  hold  the  mighty  North, 

If  such  a  task  were  easy  to  perform. 

What  it  desires  is  "  to  be  let  alone." 

Their  haughty  hatred  of  the  North  forbids 

The  subjugation  of  its  busy  throngs. 

They  would  not  take  the  whole  as  a  free  gift, 

Unless  its  denizens  would  emigrate 

To  heaven  or  to  some  other  distant  place. 

Against  all  Yankees  they  are  taken  with 

What  an  old  Frenchman  called  "  one  grand  disgust." 

A  separation  is  what  they  demand. 

Mammon.  But  this  is  folly's  most  absurd  desire. 
No  Chinese  wall  could  keep  a  Yankee  out 
Of  lands  he  knows  he  is  not  wanted  in. 
Such  shrewd  Paul  Prys  would  find  a  way  to  hell, 
Were  they  prohibited  from  going  there. 

Satan.  They  teach  me  more  new  tricks  than  I  have 

learned 
Through  all  the  ages  from  all  other  men. 

Belus.  Old  Babylon  had  no  such  citizens. 
Had  one  live  Yankee  landed  from  the  ark, 
This  slow  old  world  would  have  been  spurred  to  speed 
Such  as  its  lazy  tribes  failed  to  attain. 

Mars.  These  victors  will  not  "  on  to  Washington." 
Davis  has  come.     See  him  with  Johnston  there; 
They  will  not  chase  their  panic-stricken  foes. 
The  South  has  lost  its  opportunity. 

Scene:  State  Department,  Washington,  D.  C.,  November,  1861.    SA 
TAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  What  brings  you  here  to-day,  brave,  trusty 
friend? 

Mars.  I  came  to  stir  the  flames  of  furious  wrath 
Against  the  British  here  in  Washington. 
Wilkes  is  the  hero  of  the  present  hour, 
The  idol  of  the  people  of  the  North. 
With  half  a  chance  they'd  make  him  President. 


174  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

They  talk  of  Wilkes,  of  Mason,  of  Slidell, 
And  want  to  sweep  old  England  from  the  seas. 

Satan.  Have  you  succeeded  in  your  enterprise? 

Mars.  No.     Seward  can  defy  the  hated  South, 
And  Lincoln  laugh  and  joke  at  its  expense; 
But  at  the  threats  of  Palmerston  they  wilt 
Like  fragile  flow'rs  before  a  wintry  blast. 
Now  tell  what  you  have  done  since  last  we  met. 

Satan.  I  crossed  the  ocean  to  the  British  court, 
And  woke  to  wrath  the  lion  in  his  lair, 
Until  his  roaring  echoed  round  the  world. 
Then  hastened  back  to  hear  the  eagle  scream, 
And  see  his  talons  strike  his  raging  foe. 
I  hoped  to  find  quite  half  a  world  in  arms — 
Old  England,  Ireland,  India,  Canada, 
And  shiv'ring  Eussia  joining  in  the  light. 

Mars.  You'll  see  the  great  republic  cringing  low 
T'  appease  the  wrath  the  Trent  affair  provoked. 
Old  Palmerston  will  get  all  he  demands 
From  these  puissant  men  in  Washington. 

Satan.  Please  tell  me  what  the  warriors  of  the  West 
Have  been  engaged  in  since  the  war  began? 

Mars.  Missouri  furnished  soldiers  for  both  sides; 
Jackson,  her  Governor,  was  Southern  born ; 
Price,  her  commander,  has  a  kindly  heart. 
Brave  Gen'ral  Harney,  grand  old  veteran, 
The  hero  of  a  hundred  Indian  fights, 
Was  in  no  haste  to  fight  his  countrymen, 
So  they  held  back  the  fratricidal  strife. 
But  Lyon  soon  let  loose  the  dogs  of  war; 
The  Germans  led  by  Sigel  aided  him. 
At  Boonville  they  began  their  bloody  work, 
Continued  it  at  Carthage  with  success; 
At  Wilson's  Creek,  near  Springfield,  fought  again, 
Where  Price  and  brave  McCullough  led  the  South. 
Lyon  was  slain.     The  Germans  then  fell  back. 
At  Lexington  Price  captured  Mulligan 


FOltT  DONELSON.  175 

And  his  three  regiments  of  well-armed  men. 
Then  the  command  was  given  to  Fremont, 
Then  Hunter,  and  then  Halleck,  in  his  place. 
Like  tops  in  hands  of  little,  idle  boys, 
These  heroes  were  spun  round  from  Washington. 
At  Belmont  Grant  had  skirmishing  with  Polk, 
But  nothing  was  accomplished  by  the  fight. 
Please  tell  me  what  the  Eastern  troops  have  done. 

Satan.  Along  the  sea-cost  unimportant  forts 
Were  captured  by  the  navy,  and  some  troops. 
On  the  Potomac  Baker,  at  Ball's  Bluff, 
Fell  at  the  head  of  his  two  thousand  men, 
Of  whom  one-half  were  captured,  wounded,  slain, 
By  Southern  men  who  were  by  Evans  led. 
Two  hundred  thousand  healthy,  well-drilled  men, 
Well  fed,  well  clothed,  and  well  equipped, 
Confront  black  Quaker  cannons  made  of  wood 
To  keep  them  from  bombarding  Washington. 
As  many  more  drilled  troops  are  scattered  round 
Between  the  rising  and  the  setting  sun. 
What  they  are  doing  you  will  have  to  guess. 
McClellan  leads  where  Scott  was  in  command; 
Behold  them  as  they  meet  the  President. 

Scene :  Fort  Donelson,  Tcnn.,  February  16,  1862.    SATAN,  MARS. 

Mars.  All  hail !     My  chief,  we  now  have  war  indeed. 
Kentucky's  mountain  soil  is  stained  with  blood. 
Garfield  forced  Marshall  to  retreat  in  haste. 
Thomas  at  Mill  Spring  gained  a  victory, 
Where  Zollicoffer  fell,  and  Crittenden 
Retreated  in  disorder  from  the  field. 
Fort  Henry,  on  the  Lower  Tennessee, 
Was  captured  by  Foote's  gun-boats.     Since  it  fell 
Fort  Donelson,  that  guards  the  Cumberland, 
Has  been  besieged  by  thirty  thousand  men, 
Led  on  by  Grant,  that  thunder-bolt  of  war, 
And  aided  by  Foote's  gun-boats  to  bombard. 

Satan.  How  goes  the  siege?     Can  the  besieged  hold 

out? 
There  has  been  dcsp'rato  fighting  on  both  sides. 


176  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Mars.  The  chief  commanders  at  the  post  have  left, 
And  many  soldiers  have  retired  in  haste. 
Pillow  and  Floyd  left  Buekner  in  command, 
To  fight  three  times  the  number  of  his  troops, 
Besides  Foote's  gun-boats  and  the  wint'ry  storms. 

Satan.  The  brave  young  gen'ral  must  give  up  the  fort; 
To  hold  out  longer  is  impossible. 
The  firing  ceases;  Grant  and  Buekner  meet. 


An  unconditional  surrender  now 

IH  what  the  Union  general  requires. 

This  frees  Kentucky  from  Confed'rate  troops, 

And  gives  the  Union  half  of  Tennessee, 

With  full  ten  thousand  pris'ners  and  their  arms. 

Scene  :  ShUoh  Church,  Tenn.,  April  7, 1862.    SATAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  How  now,  great  son  of  old  Olympian  Jove> 
Have  we  had  war  to-day  and  yesterday? 
These  armies  lost  ten  thousand  on  each  side 

Mars.  Yes,  we  had  war,  but  they  made  grave  mistakes. 
Grant  might  have  made  the  river  his  defense, 
Till  Buell  could  arrive  with  his  large  force; 
Or,  risking  battle  without  Buell's  aid, 
He  should  have  had  his  army  well  in  hand, 
None  lost  and  scattered  through  the  hills  and  vales 
Of  wooded  regions  near  his  enemies — 
With  scouts  and  sentries  negligently  placed. 
Confederate  forces,  crowned  with  victory, 
Had  a  rare  chance  to  capture  their  whipped  foes, 
In  spite  of  gun-boats,  before  Buell  came. 
War  claimed  earth's  grandest,  noblest  sacrifice 
When  Albert  Sidney  Johnston  was  laid  low. 
On  yesterday  Confed'rates  beat  their  foes 
And  drove  them  to  the  shelter  of  the  cliffs; 
To-day  the  Fed'rals  drove  them  from  the  field; 
To-morrow  they  will  be  in  full  retreat. 
The  firing  ceases.     Buelt  comes  this  way; 
With  him  come  Nelson,  Sherman,  Wallace,  Grant. 


CAPTURE  OF  NEW  ORLEANS.  177 

Scene:  New   Orleans,  April  21,  1SG2.    SATAN,  MAES,  MAMMON, 
BELIAL. 

Satan.  Welcome  to  New  Orleans,  my  warlike  friend! 
Were  you  not  here  with  Jackson  in  his  prime? 

Mars.  I  was.     Had  he  been  here  ten  days  ago 
My  brother,  Neptune,  had  not  sent  his  sons, 
Porter  and  Farragut,  past  all  the  forts 
To  capture  this  fair  city.     It  is  ruled 
By  one  hated  by  women  and  despised 
By  all  who  honor  and  esteem  the  fair. 
Can  Jackson's  statue  look  on  such  a  man 
Without  a  most  indignant,  virtuous  frown? 

Satan.  I  beg  you,  Mars,  refrain  from  such  abuse 
Of  one  I  number  on  my  list  of  friends. 

Mammon.  And  ho  is  one  of  my  best  clients  too, 
I  pray  you  spare  him,  also  for  my  sake. 

Belial.  He  is  my  fav'rite,  trusty  crony  too. 
One  such  to  me  is  worth  ten  thousand  men. 

Mars.  I  leave  him  then  with  you,  his  honored  friends. 
But  tell  me  what  you  know  about  the  war. 

Belial.  I  was  at  Pea  Ridge  with  my  Indian  braves, 
But  there  McCullough,  Mclntosh,  and  Pike 
Made  them  behave  themselves  like  gentlemen. 
Curtis  was  also  sober  as  a  judge, 
So  sons  of  Belial  had  no  chance  for  sport. 
But  twenty  thousand  armed  on  either  side 
Fought  like  young  catamounts  for  two  whole  days. 
Thousands  were  captured,  sickened,  wounded,  slain. 
McCullough,  Mclntosh,  and  others  fell, 
But  the  grand  battle  had  no  marked  result. 

Mammon.  My  clients  seeking  cotton  claimed  my  care. 
So  with  Burnside  and  Goldsboro  I  went 
To  capture  Roanoke  Island  and  New  Berne. 
Three  thousand  prisoners  were  there  secured. 
When  Pope  attacked  New  Madrid  I  was  there; 
Went  with  him  down  to  Island  Number  Ten — 

12 


178  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Saw  it  bombarded  more  than  twenty  days, 
Until  five  thousand  men  surrendered  there. 
Then  came  with  Butler  up  to  New  Orleans, 
After  six  days  bombardment  of  the  forts. 

Satan.  Then  you  too  must  have  learned  the  art  of  wav. 

Mammon.  Not  I,  for  fighting  never  was  my  trade. 
But  I  have  learned  to  "  capture  " — that's  the  word 
Used  in  the  army,  and  the  navy  too. 
Men  of  all  ranks  have  taught  me  that  fine  art, 
And  1  am  ready  now  to  graduate. 
They  capture  horses,  cows,  and  merchandise, 
With  now  and  then  a  well-trained  negro  cook, 
Man-servant  or  maid-servant,  if  you  please. 
And  'tis  reported  parsons  steal  a  church 
In  the  great  name  of  God  and  loyalty. 
But  I  must  hush — the  great  men  come  this  way. 
There's  Farragut,  no  blot  upon  his  name; 
And  there  is  Porter — on  his  lofty  brow 
Hereditary  honors  clust'ring  thick ; 
And  General  Butler  spurns  the  ground  he  treads. 

Scene:  Malvern  Hill,  twelve  miles  from  Richmond,  Va.,   July  10, 
1862.    SATAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  "What  say  you  now  about  my  "  skirmishes?" 
I  want  your  present  views  of  this  campaign. 
Give  me  some  lessons  in  the  art  of  war. 

Mars.  The  Shenandoah  conflicts,  though  but  brief, 
Exceeded  all  that  I  had  ever  seen. 
Never  before  had  twenty  thousand  men 
Performed  such  wonders  in  so  short  a  time 
Against  such  numbers  led  by  noted  chiefs. 
Shields  and  Fremont  were  war-worn  veterans, 
Gen'rals  triumphant  over  Mexicans. 
Banks  had  fought  many  battles  with  his  tongue, 
Licked  Abolition  cohorts  into  shape, 
And  conquered  troops  of  rampant  Congressmen; 
But  Jackson  easily  outgeneraled  them, 
Gave  their  green  laurels  to  the  frosty  winds, 
Blending  their  names  with  his  undying  fume. 


FIGHTING   TOO  FREELY.  179 

Satan.  What  think  you  of  McClellaii's  strategy? 

Mars.  Having  the  railroads,  rivers,  bay,  and  sea, 
He  should  have  landed  upon  solid  ground, 
As  near  to  Richmond  as  was  possible, 
Reserving  all  his  force  for  one  great  fight, 
And  then  pressed  in,  no  matter  at  what  cost. 
His  month  at  Yorktown,  fight  at  Williamsburg, 
Four  weeks  devoted  to  a  tiresome  march, 
Served  but  to  place  exhausted,  weary  troops 
Where  fresh  ones  might  have  been  two  months  before. 
But  toil-worn  as  they  were,  they  bravely  fought, 
A  day  at  West  Point,  two  days  at  Fair  Oaks, 
Left  Johnston  wounded,  Richmond's  gates  ajar, 
Inviting  Northern  troops  to  march  right  in. 
But  ill-judged  prudence  sounded  a  retreat 
To  Malvern  Hill,  where  victory  again 
Placed  in  McClellan's  hands  Richmond's  bright  keys. 
He  did  not  use  them,  but  led  off  his  troops 
Some  miles  away,  and  farther  down  the  stream. 
Far  less  than  half  the  blood  shed  at  Oak  Grove, 
Mcchanicsville,  Gaines's  Mill,  Glendale,  Oak  Swamp, 
Or  Savage  Station,  or  at  Frazier's  Farm, 
Would  at  Fair  Oaks,  or  even  Malvern  Hill, 
Have  placed  in  Richmond  fivescore  thousand  men, 
In  spite  of  all  the  troops  that  could  oppose. 
The  thunders  that  have  loudly  echoed  here 
Through  the  sad  moments  of  a  dreadful  week, 
And  all  the  blood  Virginia's  soil  drank  in 
Have  been  in  vain.     Thirty  thousand  deaths 
Fill  this  broad  land  with  tearful,  sobbing  grief. 

Satan.  Please  give  me  your  opinion  in  few  words 
Of  Southern  strategy  and  its  defects. 

Mjirs.  They  fight  too  freely,  too  incautiously. 
Of  the  best  soldiers  earth  has  ever  seen, 
They  have  too  few  to  waste  such  precious  lives. 
McClcllan  errs  upon  the  other  hand: 
His  countless  troops,  like  apples  of  his  eyes, 
Are  screened  from  harm.     He  hates  to  see  them  fight, 
Lest  his  dear  pets  should  sleep  in  soldiers'  graves. 


180  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

'Tis  Richmond  that  the  Union  forces  want. 
The  South  has  slaves  and  spades  enough  at  hand 
To  let  its  sons  behind  intrenchments  tight, 
Wherever  it  is  known  the  foe  will  come. 
Why  not  encircle  Richmond  with  earth  walls, 
The  inner  one  outside  of  cannon  range, 
Then  bid  the  foe  come  on  and  take  the  place? 
See  there  the  Northern  heroes  of  this  war! 
Porter  and  Mansfield,  Hooker,  Kearney,  Sykes; 
And  there  McClellan,  idol  of  his  troops. 

In  March  Virginia's  iron  Titan  dared 

To  seize  old  Neptune's  watery  domain, 

And  wield  his  trident  over  subject  seas: 

With  ten  guns  drove  more  than  two  hundred  off, 

To  seek  the  shallow  waters  near  the  shore. 

The  "Cumberland"  and  "Congress"  both  destroyed, 

And  their  rich  transports  blown  up,  burned,  or  sunk, 

In  naval  warfare  a  new  era  marked. 

But  when  the  "Monitor"  joined  in  the  fight, 

Virginia  suffered  for  her  sad  neglect 

To  learn  and  teach  the  great  mechanic  arts. 

'Twas  so  when  Rumsey,  on  Potomac's  tide,* 

First  showed  a  steamboat  to  a  wond'ring  world; 

But  skilled  mechanics  could  not  there  be  found. 

'Twas  so  when  Tompkins,  near  Kanawha's  stream,f 

First  yoked  to  industry  the  light  and  heat 

Of  gas  that  came  from  subterranean  depths. 

The  plodding  Pennsylvanians  obtained 

In  forty  years  the  profit  of  their  skill. 

McCormick  gave  the  reaper  to  mankind, 

But  sought  skilled  workmen  in  a  distant  State. 

'Tis  thus  that  genius  gems  with  jewels  bright 

Virginia's  most  resplendent,  matchless  crown. 

Transcendent  glory  blazes  on  her  brow, 

But  lack  of  artisans  depletes  her  wealth; 

'Twill  sink  her  mighty  ironclads  in  the  deep. 

*1784. 


BOOK  NINTH. 


Scene:  Fredericksburg,  Va.,  December  15, 1862.    SATAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  Ha!  ha!  ha!  ha!  this  is  the  proudest  hour 
That  I  have  known.     Yes,  "  proud  as  Lucifer," 
Is  what  men  say.     Hereafter  let  them  say: 
"  Proud  as  great  Lucifer  at  Fredericksburg." 
Behold  the  smoking  ruins  of  that  town ; 
Gaze  on  those  thousands  of  unburied  dead; 
List  to  the  shrieks  and  groans  that  fill  the  air 
Is  this  Dahomey,  Turkey,  or  Fiji? 
No.     Washington  in  boyhood  trod  this  soil. 
Here  Patrick  Henry's  grateful  countrymen 
Escorted  him  t'ward  Philadelphia, 
When  he  had  driven  Dunmore  from  the  land. 
But  now  I  triumph !  triumph  even  here ! 
I've  led  a  few  fanatical,  rash  men 
To  fire  the  sections  with  intensest  hate, 
And  by  that  hatred  turned  to  bitterness 
The  richest  gifts  bestowed  upon  mankind; 
Their  noblest  virtues  vices  have  become ; 
Their  excellences  lead  them  down  to  death. 
West  Point  has  trained  them  for  my  hellish  work, 
Their  education  fits  them  for  my  use. 
Chivalric  courage  dooms  them  to  the  grave ; 
Their  hoarded  wealth  prolongs  the  dreadful  fight; 
Superior  skill  provides  most  deadly  arms; 
And  piety  makes  conscience  drive  them  on 
To  deeds  that  hell  itself  might  blush  to  own. 
'Tis  war  no  longer;  it  is  hatred  crazed 
And  armed  against  the  best  of  all  the  race. 
I  had  not  dared  to  hope  for  such  results 
From  my  most  cherished,  sanguinary  schemes. 
Inform  me,  Mars,  about  this  last  campaign. 

(181) 


(182) 


M'CLELLAN  DISMISSED.  183 

Mars.  At  Cedar  Mountain  Jackson  routed  Banks; 
Then,  hast'ning  to  Manassas,  captured  trains 
And  troops  and  stores  beyond  all  estimate; 
Fighting  at  Bull  Run  and  at  Centerville, 
And  fighting  at  Chantilly,  caused  the  flight 
Of  Pope  and  his  whipped  troops  to  Washington. 
There,  at  his  own  request,  he  was  relieved. 
His  army,  added  to  McClellan's  force, 
Followed  the  fortunes  of  that  careful  chief, 
Who  hurried  back  to  trembling  Washington, 
And  calmed  the  fears  of  Stanton  and  his  friends. 
When  August  ended,  Lee  began  again 
To  seek  for  enemies  in  Maryland — 
His  men  took  Frederick,  and  passing  on 
Without  resistance  entered  Hagerstown. 
Jackson,  at  Harper's  Ferry,  captured  Miles 
And  his  twelve  thousand  men,  with  arms  and  stores; 
Then  hastened  to  join  Lee  at  Antietam, 
Where,  after  four  days'  fighting,  Lee  retired. 
'Twas  a  drawn  battle,  where  each  army  lost 
More  than  ten  thousand  men  and  nothing  gained. 
Then  "  On  to  Richmond !  "  was  the  cry  again 
Of  millions  armed  with  very  sharp  steel  pens. 
The  politicians  asked  McClellan's  head, 
Lest  victory  should  make  him  President. 
When  ready  to  take  Richmond,  they  required 
Protection  for  themselves  in  Washington. 
The  waters  all  were  his.     He  trusted  them 
To  land  him  safely  where  a  ten-mile  march 
Would  bring  him  to  the  Southern  capital. 
But  those  bad  men  whose  hatred  of  the  South 
And  bold  bravadoes  first  provoked  the  war 
Required  him  to  fight  along  a  line 
By  which  the  foe  might  by  a  hasty  march 
Lay  hold  on  their  puissant  carcasses. 
The  brave  man  yielded  to  their  craven  fears, 
While  pity  for  his  soldiers  wrung  his  heart, 
That  they  must  suffer  for  the  cowardice 
Of  place-men  who  controlled  their  destinies. 
Then  they  removed  him  from  his  post  of  power, 
Promoting  Burnside  to  the  chief  command. 


184  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  rest  you  know.     There's  Mosby,  A.  P.  Hill, 
Pickett,  and  Stuart,  Early,  Jackson,  Lee. 

Scene:  Murfreesboro,  Term.,  January  3, 1863.    SATAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  This  seems  the  strangest  battle  ever  fought. 
Two  days  ago  Rosecrans  was  badly  whipped. 
To-day  his  troops  were  forced  across  the  stream. 
At  three  o'clock  Confcd' rates  claimed  the  day, 
But  his  well-placed,  well-served  artillery 
Began  to  mow  them  down  like  ripened  grain, 
Until  they  now  retire  in  swift  retreat. 
The  new  year's  early  hours  are  red  with  blood 
Drawn  from  the  veins  of  twenty  thousand  men. 
Please  tell  me,  Mars,  what  news  from  other  fields  ? 

Mars.  Kentucky  was  last  year  the  scene  of  strife. 
At  .Richmond,  Kirby  Smith  drove  Manson  out, 
Then  visited  at  Lexington,  Versailles, 
Frankfort,  and  other  noted,  prosp'rous  towns, 
And  threatened  Cincinnati  and  the  North. 
Then  Bragg  came  in,  by  Buell  closely  watched. 
At  Munfordsville  he  captured  prisoners; 
Then,  seeking  to  unite  with  Kirby  Smith, 
Gave  Buell  time  to  rest  at  Louisville, 
And  gather  re- enforcements  from  the  North. 
At  Perryville  the  armies  met  and  fought. 
Brave  men  were  slain,  but  without  marked  results. 
'Twas  a  drawn  battle.     Bragg  and  Smith  retired 
With  great  deliberation  from  the  State, 
Taking  away  four  thousand  wagon-loads 
Of  precious  stores  and  many  animals, 
Which  had  been  gathered  during  forty  days. 
Price  was  repulsed  from  luka  by  Grant; 
Van  Dorn  and  Price  from  Corinth  by  Rosecrans; 
Sherman  was  whipped  at  Chickasaw  Bayou. 
You  have  not  time  for  other  dry  details, 
But  must  be  interested  to  behold 
Ilosccrans  and  Thomas,  heroes  of  this  fight. 

Scene :  Guiney's  Station,  Va.,  May  5, 1863.    SATAN,  MARS. 
Mars.  Hooker  retreats;  the  battle  ceases  here. 


"STONEWALL"  JACKSON'S  DEATH.  185 

In  tliroc  days'  fighting  his  great  army  lost 

Seventeen  thousand  well-drilled  veterans. 

Lee  is  victorious,  yet  he  has  lost 

More  than  his  enemy  a  thousand-fold. 

Jackson  has  fallen,  and  he  soon  must  die. 

In  vict'ry's  loving  arms  the  hero  fell, 

Admired  and  honored  by  his  fiercest  foes. 

The  trump  of  fame  sounds  forth  his  glorious  name 

In  every  land  where  valor  is  esteemed. 

Satan.  Foe  as  I  am  to  all  the  hated  race, 
Toiling  through  ages  most  malignantly, 
To  work  its  ruin  through  eternity, 
I  must  confess  he  triumphed  over  me  ! 
From  my  maliciousness  extorted  praise. 

Mars.  His  last  great  battle  was  a  masterpiece 
Of  strategy  and  valor  well  combined. 
He  fell  not  by  a  foeman's  fatal  shot. 
The  men  who  slew  him  would  have  gladly  risked 
Ten  thousand  deaths  to  save  their  hero's  life. 
Behold  the  wounded  warrior  on  his  couch 
Serenely  waiting  the  approach  of  death. 
That  open  window  shows  his  manly  face. 
Let  us  retire;  see,  holy  angels  come, 
With  duteous  love  the  hero  to  attend. 

SATAN  and  MARS  retire.  Enter  GABRIEL,  UZZIEL,  ITIIURIEL,  RAPHAEL, 
ABDIEL,  ZOPHIEL,  ZEPHON,  ARIEL,  ZADKIEL,  ISRAFIEL,  chanting : 

"Rest  for  the  toiling  hand,  rest  for  the  anxious  brow, 
Rest  for  the  weary,  way-sore  feet,  rest  from  all  labor  now; 
Rest  for  the  fevered  brain,  rest  for  the  throbbing  eye; 
Through  these  parched  lips  of  thine  no  more  shall  pass 
the  moan  or  sigh." 

"Go  to  the  grave  in  all  thy  glorious  prime, 

In  full  activity  of  zeal  and  power ! 
A  Christian  cannot  die  before  his  time, 

The  Lord's  appointment  is  the  servant's  hour. 
Go  to  the  grave ;  at  noon  from  labor  cease ; 

Rest  on  thy  sheaves;  thy  harvest  task  is  done; 
Come  from  the  heat  of  battle  and  in  peace,      v 

Soldier,  go  home  with  thee,  the  fight  is  won." 


186  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene :  Gettysburg,  Pa.,  July  4,  1863.    MICHAEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZEPH- 
ON,  ARIEL,  GABRIEL,  RAPHAEL. 

Michael.  All  hail,  ye  servants  of  the  Lord  Most  High ! 
I  summoned  you  to  meet  me  here  to-day 
To  wait  on  men  in  this  their  hour  of  need. 
'Twas  ours  to  meet  on  Independence  Day 
In  this  same  State  jat  Philadelphia 
When  this  republic  struggled  into  life. 
We  all  were  helpful  at  its  wondrous  birth. 
Please  tell  me  what  I  gave  you  then  to  do? 

IthurieL  I  tore  the  mask  from  base  hypocrisy, 
Exposed  the  cloven  foot  of  treachery. 

Abdiel.  I  urged  the  slow-paced  few  to  promptly  act. 
Zephon.  I  gave  the  timid  most  courageous  thoughts. 
Ariel.  To  the  desponding  I  gave  cheering  hopes. 

Raphael.  To  Jefferson  I  taught  the  use  of  words 
That  Georgia  and  New  England  could  approve. 
He  had  denounced  the  slave  trade  in  such  terms 
As  they  could  never  use  with  self-respect. 
New  England  would  not  thus  condemn  her  sons 
For  trafficking  in  human  flesh  and  blood. 
The  profits  of  the  trade  were  dear  to  her. 
While  Georgia  would  not  do  without  the  slaves, 
Nor  would  the  gen'rous  Carolinians. 

Gabriel.  I  gave  John  Adams  moving  eloquence 
That  won  men  over  to  his  righteous  cause. 

Michael.  And  we  and  all  the  sons  of  God  rejoiced 
To  see  such  loving  union  among  men ; 
Hoping  for  peace  through  this  broad  continent. 
And  freedom  from  all  kinds  of  tyranny. 
How  is  it  with  this  nation  we  have  served? 
Men  celebrate  their  country's  natal  day, 
Not  with  glad  greetings,  worshiping  their  God, 
But  mid  the  ruins  of  a  three  days'  fight, 
Where  more  than  fifty  thousand  veterans, 
Killed  or  disabled,  call  for  briny  tears ; 


HEAVEN  THE  BOSOM  OF  JOHN  BROWN.  187 

Or,  «is  at  Yicksburg,  thirty  thousand  men 
Aro  starved  or  slain  by  their  own  countrymen. 
Are  these  the  fruits  of  all  our  careful  toil? 

Gabriel.  No,  Michael,  these  are  fruits  of  hellish  hato 
Between  the  sections  of  this  favored  land. 


MINISTERING   ANGELS. 


Until  the  gospel  of  the  Son  of  God 
Shall  drive  this  fiendish  hatred  far  away, 
Discord  and  strife  and  malice  must  prevail. 

Michael.  But,  Gabriel,  these  destroying  forces  claim 
That  Christ  and  conscience  drive  them  to  such  deeds. 


188  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Bishops  and  saints  pray  mightily  to  God 

That  slaughterers  of  men  may  have  success. 

Even  the  dying,  like  Mohammedans, 

Claim  glory  in  the  heavens  for  killing  men. 

Their  crowns  are  gifts  from  Christ,  but  kindred  blood 

Shed  by  their  holy  hands  in  this  great  war 

Adds  glory  to  the  brightest  of  those  crowns. 

Both  have  high  hopes  of  being  with  the  Lord, 

But  Southern  men  to  Stonewall  Jackson  go; 

While  the  great  North  in  the  sad  hour  of  death 

Goes  shouting  to  the  bosom  of  John  Brown. 

Such  silliness  may  hope  to  be  excused, 

But  how  can  such  malevolence  escape 

Just  visitations  of  the  wrath  to  come? 

Gabriel.  Michael,  you  state  sad,  mortifying  truths. 
A  most  perplexing  question  you  propound. 
But  God  is  good  and  Christ  for  sinners  died. 
Satan  deceives  his  selfish  scheming  dupes, 
And  they  mislead  and  craze  the  multitude. 
The  hatred  of  the  sections  is  indulged 
Against  imaginary,  unknown  foes. 
The  malice  and  malignity  they  feel 
Are  venomous  against  such  fancied  ghouls 
As  politicians  paint  to  madden  them. 
When  these  men  face  to  face  associate, 
No  longer  hoodwinked  by  the  fiends  that  lead, 
Malevolence  is  banished,  and  they  love 
Like  brothers  of  one  holy  family. 
Hancock  and  Lee  and  Meade  and  Stuart  feel 
No  hellish  hatred  against  gallant  foes. 
So  of  the  war-worn  soldiers  of  their  ranks; 
To  know  each  other  kindles  ardent  love. 
Thousands  of  brave,  unhappy  sufferers 
Require  our  aid  upon  this  battle-field. 
Let  us  to  duty.     There  is  Gen'ral  Meadc, 
Attentive  to  the  wounded  and  the  sick ; 
And  there  is  Hancock,  wounded  and  in  pain. 

Scene:   Vicksburg,  Miss.,  July  4,  1SG3.    SATAN,  MARS,  MAMMON, 
BELIAL. 

Satan.  How  goes  the  siege  ?     Why  docs  it  last  so  long? 


SURRENDER  OF  TICKSBURG.  189 

Mars.  'Tis  desp'rato  valor  upon  cither  sido 
Prolongs  the  suft"ings  of  these  val'rous  men, 
But  the  Confed'rates  now  must  yield  or  starve. 
Arkansas  Post  fell  early  in  the  spring, 
Surrendering  five  thousand  valiant  men 
To  Porter's  gun-boats  and  McClernand's  troops. 
Grant  sought  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  through  the  swamps, 
The  mud,  the  bayous,  and  the  rugged  hills; 
Then  tried  to  turn  the  river  from  the  town 
By  digging  deep  canals  to  change  its  course. 
Failing  in  that,  he  passed  the  thund'ring  forts 
With  even  less  of  harm  than  he  had  feared ; 
Then  took  with  ease  Port  Gibson  and  Grand  Gulf. 
The  Union  troops  gained  hard-earned  victories 
At  Jackson,  Raymond,  and  at  Champion  Hills; 
In  a  fierce  conflict  at  Black  River  bridge 
Whipped  Pemberton,  and  forced  him  to  retreat 
Within  the  strong  defenses  of  Vicksburg. 
Grant,  two  days  later,  made  a  bold  assault, 
Hoping  successfully  to  storm  the  place; 
But  was  repulsed  with  loss  of  many  men. 
Since  then,  through  more  than  seven  bloody  weeks, 
The  fight  continues  with  great  loss  of  life. 

Satan.  'Tis  said  that  thirty  thousand  half-starved  men 
Surrender  on  this  Independence  Day; 
And  that  Port  Hudson,  now  besieged  by  Banks, 
JMust  also  fall,  thus  op'riing  to  the  Gulf 
The  unrestricted  commerce  of  the  West, 
And  with  a  wall  of  waters  fencing  off 
Western  Confed'rates  from  their  brethren  East. 

Mammon.  Then  what  a  harvest  will  my  clients  reap  ! 
The  plunder  of  a  hundred  thousand  homes, 
Besides  the  cotton-bales  and  contrabands. 

Belial.  And  the  companions  of  my  revelry 
Will  sport  amid  the  wrecks  of  families — 
White,  red,  and  black,  the  lofty  and  the  low. 

Mars.  The  firing  ceases  I     See  that  flag  of  truce ! 
Its  snowy  folds  above  the  ruins  float. 


190  THE  AMEUICAN  EPIC. 

Peace,  plenty,  rest,  and  joy  it  promises. 

The  torn  and  tattered  stars  and  bars  come  down; 
The  stars  and  stripes  rise  grandly  o'er  the  scene. 
There's  plenty  now  for  the  starved  garrison. 
See  Pemberton  and  Grant  and  McPherson  ! 

Scene:  CMckamauga  Creek,  Ga.,  September  20, 1S63.    SATAX,  MAM 
MON,  BELIAL,  MARS. 

Satan.  Whence  come  you,  Mammon  ?  whither  have  you 
been? 

Mammon.  I  came  from  Charleston,  where  DuPont's 

great  fleet 

Was  badly  whipped  in  April  of  this  year. 
Where  in  July  Dahlgren  and  Gilmorc  went 
To  batter  forts  and  crush  them  into  dust. 
September  saw  Confederates  retire 
Within  the  lines  of  their  heroic  town. 
Their  enemies  advanced  their  batteries 
Within  four  miles  of  Charleston's  wharves  and  stores; 
Thence  the  "  swamp  angels  "  belched  forth  streams  of 

fire 

From  blazing  mouths  on  the  devoted  place. 
But  there  is  not  much  cotton  we  can  take, 
Nor  many  slaves  as  yet  within  our  reach. 

Satan.  Belial,  say,  where  have  you  been  since  we  met? 

Belial.  From  Vicksburg  I  went  out  to  Arkansas ; 
Saw  Holmes  and  his  eight  thousand  badly  whipped, 
And  from.  Helena  driven  quite  away. 
Saw  Steele  take  Little  Rock,  and  force  his  foes 
To  leave  in  haste  with  ever-quick' n ing  speed. 
I  wished  for  Mammon — cotton  was  at  hand, 
And  I  was  almost  tempted  then  to  buy. 
But  the  best  day  of  all  that  I  enjoyed 
Was  spent  at  Lawrence  with  my  friend  Quantrck. 
It  brought  to  mind  old  Sodom's  wildest  hours, 
With  memories  of  days  before  the  flood. 


BATTLE  OF  CHICKAMAVGA.  191 

Satan.  Mars,  we  have  something  much  more  serious 

here ; 
The  mighty  Julius  would  have  called  this  war. 

Mars.  Yes,  such  attacks  as  Longstreet  made  to-day, 
And  such  as  Thomas  stubbornly  repulsed, 
Are  unsurpassed  in  all  earth's  bloody  wars. 
The  Union  right  and  center  have  been  crushed, 
The  troops  killed,  wounded,  captured,  or  dispersed 
The  scattered  fragments  of  great  army  corps 
To  Chattanooga  in  disorder  flee, 
Soldiers  and  gen'rals  all  demoralized. 
But  look  at  Thomas,  how  he  holds  his  place, 
And  keeps  his  men  in  order  round  his  flag, 
In  spite  of  war's  dread  cyclone  raging  round. 
Where  sunrise  saw  him  sunset  sees  him  still. 
Protected  by  the  darkness  he'll  retire, 
And  in  good  order  lead  his  valiant  troops 
To  help  their  cowering  comrades  organize, 
And  show  the  world  "Virginia  blood  still  tells." 
With  forty  thousand  stalwart  vet'rans  lost, 
Darkness  descends  to  part  the  combatants. 

Satan.  What  think  you  now.     Will  Eosccrans  have  to 

yicld,_ 
Surrendering  the  remnant  of  nis  force? 

Mars.  No,  Hooker  comes  with  two  strong  army  coi*ps, 
And  Sherman  also  with  his  mighty  force, 
And  Grant,  with  his  high  honors  newly  gained, 
Must  gather  lofty  laurels  for  his  brow, 
Though  they  may  grow  above  bleak  mountain  heights, 
Or  hide  among  the  curtains  of  the  skies. 
These  Fed'ral  troops  will  not  surrender  now; 
They'll  fight  for  victory  and  drive  their  foes. 
See  Bragg,  Polk,  Longstreet,  Johnston,  come  this  way, 
With  Breckinridge,  Hood,  Ewell,  following. 

Scene :  Lookout  Mountain,  Tenn.,  November  25, 1863.   SATAN,  MARS. 

Satan.  When  men  fought  yesterday  "  above  the  clouds," 
I  was  not  here  to  witness  their  bravo  deeds. 
I  had  expected  Bragg  to  start  the  fray 


192  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  carry  Chattanooga  by  assault. 
He  did  give  notice  that  non-combatants 
Might  be  removed  away  to  some  safe  place. 
I  missed  the  battle,  but  would  see  it  now 
Through  your  keen  eyes — or  rather  hear  of  it 
From  your  glib  tongue.     I  wait — I  wish  to  learn. 

Mars.  Two  days  ago,  with  quietness  and  care, 
The  troops  of  Hooker  crossed  the  Tennessee, 
And  rested  near  the  mouth  of  Lookout  Creek, 
Quite  unobserved  by  the  Confederates. 
Day  dawned  upon  a  land  obscured  by  fogs. 
Two  hours  sufficed  to  take  the  rifle-pits 
That  swept  the  foot-hills  with  their  leaden  hail; 
Then  up  the  steep  ascent  bold  thousands  rushed 
Onward  and  skyward  to  the  jaws  of  death, 
Crowding  each  other  upward  through  the  storm 
T'ward  the  red  mouths  of  scores  of  thund'ring  guns., 
Of  the  fierce  conflict  on  that  tow'ring  height 
Between  the  very  bravest  of  brave  men 
No  words  of  mine  can  adequately  tell; 
But  soon  down  Lookout  Mountain's  eastern  side 
Confcd'rates  fled,  all  tumbling  down  the  steep, 
Mingling  with  rocks  and  rifles  as  they  rolled, 
Until  by  two  o'clock  the  men  in  blue, 
Beneath  their  flag  held  all  the  mountain-top, 
A  nd  saw  their  foes  escape  to  Mission  Ridge, 
Where  they  have  since  been  well  reorganized. 
Thus  I've  described  the  fight  "  above  the  clouds," 
But  you  can  now  behold  it  for  yourself, 
As  if  you  had  but  loudly  cried  "Encore," 
And  actors  come  again  to  play  for  you. 
A  larger  army  climbs  to  Mission  Ridge  .* 

To  drive  a  foe  intrenched  and  wide-awake. 
Yes,  we'll  have  more  than  royal  sport  again, 
With  larger  forces  more  distinctly  seen. 
See  Hooker's  braves  descend  the  mountain  side; 
They  cross  the  Chattanooga  and  ascend, 
With  lion  leaps,  far  up  the  south-west  slope 
Of  Mission  Ridge.     Sherman  has  boldly  passed 
The  Chickamaucra  and  the  Tennessee. 


FIGHTING  ABOVE   THE  CLOUDS.  193 

His  fearless  troops,  like  bounding  tigers,  climb 
The  north  declivity.     Thomas  awaits 
The  word  that  hurls  uphill  against  the  foe 
His  val'rous  fighting  host's  resistless  might. 
Time's  tardy  step  has  left  high  noon  behind 
More  than  an  hour  ago.     No  order  comes 
For  all  to  join  in  a  combined  assault. 
'Tis  two  o'clock  !     Grant  speaks  the  mighty  word 
That  moves  in  majesty,  with  earthquake  force, 
Forward  and  upward  the  whole  armament, 
As  if  to  scale  the  skies  and  capture  heaven. 
Such  warfare  mortals  never  waged  before, 
Nor  all  the  fabled  hosts  that  classic  times 
Gave  to  Olympian  heights  and  groves  and  clouds. 

Satan.  Well  might  Confed'rates  yield  and  flee  away. 
By  them  all  Tennessee  is  lost  and  left. 
The  conquerors  triumphant  now  return: 
Grant,  Thomas,  Hooker,  Sherman,  McPherson. 

Scene:  Covington,  Ky.,  November  20, 1863.    ARIEL,  RAPHAEL. 

Ariel.  Whose  gallant  form  is  that  with  active  step 
Treading  Kentucky's  soil  so  joyfully? 

Raphael.  'Tis  John  II.  Morgan,  whose  heroic  deeds 
Admiring  millions  gayly  celebrate, 
And  crown  with  praises  worthy  of  the  name 
Of  him  who  led  his  troops  to  victories 
That  seemed  impossible  to  other  men. 

Ariel.  He  walks  these  streets  with  the  majestic  air 
Of  an  archangel  just  returned  to  heav'n. 

Raphael.  This  most  romantic  of  all  cavaliers 
Rode  rashly  on  where  danger  led  the  way, 
As  if  to  court  adventures  fearlessly, 
And  throw  himself  into  the  arms  of  death. 
Yet  he  was  gentle  to  the  little  ones, 
With  smiles  for  beauty,  and  the  tenderness 
Of  friendship  toward  his  num'rous  prisoners. 
13 


194  THE  AMERICAN  El'IC. 

Ariel.  What  brings  him  here,  and  why  secios  ho  so 

glad 
To  set  his  feet  upon  Kentucky  ground? 

Raphael.  He  is  the  idol  of  Kontuckians: 
His  enemies  admire  his  gallantly. 
Last  summer  he  attacked  the  great  North-west 
With  but  two  thousand  bold  Kentucky  boys; 
Captured  six  thousand  of  his  enemies, 
Destroyed  ten  millions  of  their  property, 
With  thirty  thousand  thund'ring  at  his  heels. 
But  he  was  captured,  and  his  enemies 
Confined  him  in  their  penitentiary. 
They  thought  that  they'd  disgrace  their  prisoner, 
But  most  egregiously  disgraced  themselves 
By  their  base  treatment  of  a  gentleman 
Whose  gallantry  had  never  been  surpassed. 
Morgan  outwitted  them,  and  has  escaped 
To  dazzle  them  with  other  glorious  deeds. 

Scene :  Pleasant  Hill,  La.,  April  9, 1864.    MARS,  MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Mammon.  Great  son  of  Jupiter,  what  brings  you  here? 
Belial  and  I  have  business  everywhere, 
But  battles  and  the  like  belong  to  you. 
Had  fighting  here,  you  say,  where  B. . . .  commands. 

Mars.  Yes,  three  grand  armies  were  to  meet  near  here, 
And  with  the  help  of  Porter's  flotilla 
Take  Shreveport  from  Confederates  with  ease. 

Mammon.  And  did  they  do  it?    And  if  not,  why  not  ? 

Mars.  Smith  and  the  fleet  took  several  river  towns, 
But  here  at  Mansfield  and  at  Pleasant  Hill 
B. . . .  lost  three  thousand  men  and  all  his  guns, 
With  rich  supply  trains  to  the  enemy; 
And  but  for  the  brave  fighting  Gen'ral  Smith 
Captivity  had  been  the  fate  of  B 

Mammon.  Was  not  this  general  many  months  ago 
Made  "commissary  of  great  Stoncwall's  troops?  " 
And  does  ho  now  servo  "  PiOinjh  and  Ready's"  son, 
With  equal  skill  in  this  Eed  River  land  ? 


GREAT  NEW  ENGLAXDEES.  195 

Belial.  Mammon,  shame  on  you  for  your  badinage. 
You'll  soon  attack  that  other  General  B. 
Eeinember  I  too  claim  a  share  in  Ben. 
If  he  loves  money,  he  loves  pleasure  too. 
What  if  they  are  "no  generals  to  hurt?" 
They  work  the  wires  of  party  with  success, 
And  seize  a  share  of  good  things  as  they  pass. 
Think  not  to  find  men  great  in  every  thing, 
Nor  in  one  spot  to  gather  all  that's  great, 
Nor  every  kind  of  greatness  that  is  great, 
Not  e'en  in  that  great  spot  that  gave  the  world 

The  two  great  general*,  B and  B 

You'll  own  it  has  fair  women  and  wise  men, 
And  poets  that  can  fight,  in  soft,  smooth  rhymes, 
And  pulpits  that  can  utter  words  of  hate, 
And  scores  of  wordy  transcendentalists, 
Ready  in  hitchy  language  to  admit 
That  possibly,  if  properly  received, 
High  Boston  culture  in  two  thousand  years 
Might  make  their  Saviour  equal  to  themselves! 

Mars.  I  will  not  listen  to  the  trifling  talk 
Of  two  such  worthless  fiends  about  great  men 
And  that  great  spot  that  gave  them  to  mankind  ! 
What !     Shall  a  brace  of  epauleted  B.'s, 
Or  a  whole  swarm  of  callow  generals, 
And  a  few  learned  transcendentalists, 
And  some  malignant,  spiteful  pulpiteers, 
Joined  with  disciples  of  hate's  horrid  school, 
Obscure  the  glory  of  a  land  that  boasts 
Greene,  Warren,  Prescott,  Sullivan,  Frank  Pierce — 
The  Union's  patriot  heroes  in  their  day  ? 
And  the  great  names  of  Adams,  Fisher  Ames, 
Webster  and  Caleb  Gushing,  tried  and  true — 
The  Union's  statesmen  and  great  orators? 
And  Union  literati  such  as  I) wight, 
Paine,  Bryant,  Halleck,  Bancroft,  Hawthorne,  Sprague? 
And  great  inventors,  Franklin,  Whitney,  Morse? 
And  merchants  whose  unrivaled  enterprise 
Sent  winter's  icy  fetters  round  the  world 
And  brought  them  back  transmuted  into  gold? 


196  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Know  ye  that  men  shall  glory  in  that  land 
Long  after  hatred's  minions,  hurled  from  pow'r, 
Shall  end  their  spiteful,  ignominious  lives, 
To  rest  in  graves  unhonored  and  unknown. 
See?     There  is  Taylor  and  his  valiant  staff. 
He  has  chased  off  his  conquered  enemies, 
And  well  secured  his  num'rous  prisoners; 
Has  gathered  his  rich  spoils  of  victory, 
And  now  returns  with  his  triumphant  troops. 

Scene :  Cold  Harbor,  twelve  miles  north-east  of  Richmond,  Fa.,  Jane 
4, 1864.  MICHAEL,  GABRIEL,  ZEPHON,  RAPHAEL,  ABDIEL,  ITIIU- 
RIEL. 

Zephon.  Tell  us,  ye  leaders  of  the  heavenly  host, 
Why  this  fair  land's  so  drenched  with  human  blood. 

Ithuriel.  'Tis  said  that  Grant  is  losing,  month  by  month, 
Sixty  or  eighty  thousand  fighting  men; 
And  that  he  now  proposes  to  move  round 
South  of  James  River,  where  he  might  have  been 
Two  months  ago  without  the  loss  of  one. 
Why  this  unnecessary  waste  of  life? 

Gabriel.  The  men  who  cursed  this  land  with  fiendish 

war 

Keep  the  brave  troops  between  themselves  and  harm.' 
Behind  their  well-manned  forts  they  shudder  still 
At  sounds  of  horses'  hoofs  borne  from  the  South, 
Though  these  vast  armies  face  their  Southern  foes, 
And  die  to  save  thtem  from  their  ragged  ranks. 

Zephon.  I  understand  how  bravest  of  the  brave 
May  die  to  save  base  cowai-dly  poltroons; 
What  I  would  learn  is,  why  such  slaughter  here? 

Gabriel.  When  fed'ral  force  made  war  on  other  States, 
It  was  against  the  great  organic  law 
By  which  the  thirteen  nations  became  one. 
'Twas  usurpation,  fraud,  and  despotism; 
A  rash  subversion  of  the  government; 
For  all  the  States  refused  to  grant  that  pow'r. 
But  when  fanatic  fury  dared  to  strike 
The  grand  majestic  mother  of  the  States, 


VIRGINIA'S  WROX  as  AVENGED.  197 

Virginia  in  her  monumental  home, 

The  sacred  citadel  of  liberty, 

'Twas  ingrate,  cruel,  matricidal  crime ! 

This  sovereign  State  entered  the  Union  free 

To  leave  at  will  should  it  abuse  its  powers. 

'Twas  she  gave  millions  liberty  and  law, 

With  Washington  to  guard  them  with  his  sword, 

And  Jefferson  to  write  their  principles 

And  Madison  to  give  organic  form 

To  their  well-guarded  fed'ral  government, 

And  Marshall  to  apply  those  righteous  laws 

To  real  life  in  freedom's  highest  court. 

With  lavish  liberality  she  gave 

Her  vast  domain  to  make  the  Union  strong", 

Adding  six  mighty  States  to  the  bright  band. 

Virginians  bought  Louisiana's  realm; 

Traced  its  broad  bound'ry  to  the  western  sea 

That  laves  far  distant  Asia's  sunny  shore; 

Virginians  purchased  Florida  from  Spain, 

Led  Texan  troops  on  San  Jacinto's  field, 

And  re-annexed  the  Texan  soil  and  men; 

Virginians  led  the  troops  in  Mexico 

That  won  the  lands  toward  the  setting  sun ; 

And  a  Virginian  did  negotiate 

The  treaty  that  conveyed  those  vast  domains. 

She  tried  to  reconcile  the  headstrong  hosts 

That  sought  to  kindle  strife  between  the  States. 

She  bore  with  patience  insults,  threats,  and  wrongs 

Until  the  Northern  faction  spurned  the  hand 

Outstretched  by  her  to  ward  off  civil  war. 

War  came — she  had  no  hatreds  in  her  heart. 

She  fought  the  invaders  of  her  sacred  soil, 

For  principles,  defending  sovereign  rights, 

As  men  on  earth  had  never  fought  before. 

The  leader  of  her  sons  called  fiercest  foes, 

In  loving  tones,  "  Our  friends,  the  enemy." 

Raphael.  Yes,  and  her  homes,  with  hospitable  haste, 
Oft  spread  her  feasts  to  feed  her  enemies. 

Abdiel.  She  gave  high  honors  to  her  brave  compeers 
Of  other  States  who  fought  upon  her  soil; 


198  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

But  at  tho  post  of  danger  placed  her  sons, 

To  bear  the  brunt  in  many  a  hard-fought  field. 

Michael.  Yainly  her  foes  have  subsidized  mankind 
To  bring  their  hireling  forces  from  all  lands. 
Her  loving  children  formed  a  living  wall 
Around  the  immortal  mother  of  the  brave. 
Four  bloody  years  they've  fought  a  world  in  arms, 
Until  her  enemies  turn  to  her  slaves 
To  cry,  "  O  help  us,  help  us,  or  we  fail." 

Abdiel.  But  do  not  Northern  armies  hravc  brave  men, 
True  patriotic  sons  of  liberty? 
Men  worthy  of  great  honor  and  renown  ? 

Michael.  They  do,  and  their  bravo  deeds  inscribe  their 

names 

High  on  the  records  of  undying  fame, 
As  witness  Hancock,  JVIcPhcrson,  and  Grant, 
And  many  of  their  worthy,  brave  compeers. 

Abdiel.  In  other  States  they  win  great  victories. 
Why  should  they  here  wear  laurels  soaked  in  blood? 

Michael.  I  answer,  to  avenge  Virginia's  wrongs, 
And  highly  honor  her  devoted  sons. 
Give  to  the  Fed'ral  hero  honor  due: 
Ho  falls  obedient  to  his  honored  State, 
Or  lives  to  wear  the  honors  she  bestows. 
Like  the  brave  Spartans  at  Thcrmopylrc, 
lie  moves  obedient  to  a  law's  command. 
The  accident  of  birth  or  prejudice 
Determined  where  ho  bravely  lived  or  died. 
Give  him  your  hearty  sympathy  and  prayers, 
But  let  your  condemnation  rest  upon 
The  politicians  who  provoked  the  war 
By  trampling  on  the  compacts  of  their  sires. 

Scene :  Atlanta,  Ga.,  July  10,  1864.    SATAN,  MARS. 
Satan.  How  go  the  battles?     Tell  me,  god  of  war. 

Mars.  Leo  is  in  Petersburg,  besieged  by  Grant. 
Here  in  Atlanta  Johnston  is  besieged. 


SHERMAN  REPULSED.  199 

G-rant  moved  toward  Eichmond  on  the  fourth  of  May; 

Lee  fought  him  in  the  Wilderness  three  days, 

Then  three  days  more  near  Spottsylvania. 

June  came.    Cold  Harbor  saw  Grant's  legions  hurled 

In  desperation  against  Lee's  command, 

Until  ten  thousand  fell  in  half  an  hour. 

Less  than  one  month  of  such  tierce  warfare  gave 

Near  fourscore  thousand  of  Grant's  veterans 

To  gory  graves  or  to  disabling  wounds — 

A  larger  number  than  Lee's  gallant  force! 

The  Fed' nil  chief  then  turned  toward  Petersburg 

To  ground  he  might  have  reached  without  a  tight. 

While  Grant  sought  Eichmond  o'er  a  bloody  road, 

Three  thousand  soldiers  and  a  few  cadets 

Attacked  and  routed  fifteen  thousand  men. 

The  men  fought  under  Sigel;  the  brave  boys 

Were  led  by  Breckinridge  to  victory. 

Then  to  the  far- famed  valley  Hunter  came, 

In  expectation  of  submissive  prey. 

But  Early,  having  less  than  half  his  force, 

Drove  the  foul  fire-fiend  in  hot  haste  away 

Beyond  the  Alleghanies,  toward  the  west. 

At  last  accounts  Early  and  Breckinridge 

Had  whipped  Lew  Wallace  at  Monacac}7, 

And  scared  almost  to  death  the  trembling  crew 

That  rules  the  nation  now  at  Washington. 

As  to  these  men  whose  movements  we  behold,    * 

They  marched  from  Chattanooga  May  the  seventh. 

At  Dalton  sixty  thousand  well-drilled  troops 

Were  flanked  by  twice  their  number  and  fell  back. 

Eesaca's  two  days'  fighting  was  in  vain: 

On  the  fifteenth  commenced  a  forced  retreat. 

At  Dallas  fighting  was  again  renewed, 

Lost  Mountain  next  became  their  battle-ground. 

A  three  days'  fi^ht  led  Johnston  to  retreat. 

At  Kennesaw  Hood  was  repulsed  with  loss. 

Five  days  elapsed,  and  June  the  twenty-eighth 

Saw  Sherman's  fierce  assault  and  his  repulse; 

When  he  would  strike  and  storm  great  Kennesaw 

He  failed,  but  his  flank  movements  drove  his  foe 

Into  Atlanta  early  yesterday. 


200  THE  'AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Around  this  place  will  fiercest  conflicts  rage; 
For  if  it  yields,  the  South  will  lose  car-works, 
Machine-shops,  foundries,  arms,  and  army  stores; 
And  Sherman  march  triumphant  to  the  sea. 
'Tis  said  that  Johnston's  Fabian  policy 
Is  criticised  by  many  wordy  ones, 
Who  ask  for  battles — battles  every  day; 
And  that  the  cautious  chief  must  stand  aside 
And  give  his  place  to  one  more  venturesome. 
See,  there  is  McPherson,  this  army's  pride. 
He  reconnoiters  the  defenses  now. 

Scene :   Winchester,  Va.,  October  S3, 1864.   ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZEPII- 
ON,  RAPHAEL. 

Abdiel.  Comrades,  call  forth  with  S3rmpathctic  speed 
The  swift-winged  ministers  of  heavenly  help. 
The  people  of  this  valley  need  their  aid. 
With  ribald  mirth  their  enemies  proclaim 
That  sword  and  ax  and  torch  have  made  this  land 
So  desolate  that  birds  of  rapid  flight 
In  passing  o'er  it  must  provide  their  food, 
AYid  take  it  with  them  on  their  desert  way. 
As  to  the  people  they  have  doomed  to  die, 
They  say  starvation  is  too  good  for  them. 

Zephon.  Why  so  ?    Are  they  the  worst  of  Adam's  race? 
Ithuriel.  God  and  good  angels  say  they  are  the  best. 

Raphael  What  then  is  charged  against  these  suffering 
ones? 

Abdiel.  Defense  of  native  land  and  native  home. 
Earth  has  no  holier  homesteads  for  her  tribes 
Than  decked  this  valley  and  these  mountain  sides. 

Zephon.  Why,  then,  these  horrid  vandal  outrages? 

Abdiel.  The  dastard  cruelty  of  those  who  rule 
The  war  department  of  a  Christian  land 
Finds  nothing  that  can  soothe  their  quaking  fears 
While  this  heroic  valley  feeds  its  sons. 
The  name  of  Shenandoah  strikes  alarms 


RUINS  OF  ATLANTA.  201 

Through  every  craven  heart  in  Washington. 
Hence  the  great  valley  suffers  for  the  frights 
Her  children  gave  to  craven  tyrant's  hearts. 

Raphael.  But  what  avails  the  malice  of  a  foe 
Who  wreaks  his  vengeance  on  the  saints  of  God  ? 
The  slain  wear  crowns  of  triumph  with  the  Lord, 
The  wounded  have  the  comforts  of  his  grace. 
This  fertile  soil  shall  soon  renew  the  wealth 
Barbarian  hands  have  given  to  the  flames. 

Zephon.  How  sad  the  thought  that  thousands  of  the 

brave 

Shed  their  rich  blood  to  fertilize  these  lands, 
Lest  cowardice  should  meet  its  dreaded  doom ! 
How  hard  that  one  so  brave  as  Sheridan 
With  arson's  flames  must  scorch  his  laurel-wreaths, 
And  to  felonious  deeds  train  men  in  arms! 
Behold  the  youthful  hero  of  the  torch: 
Him  pity,  while  you  censure  his  vile  deeds. 

Scene:  Ruins  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  November  17,  1864.    MARS,  SATAN, 
MAMMON,  BELIAL. 

Mars.  Call  you  this  war?  or  is  it  felony 
Arrayed  in  all  the  pride  and  pomp  of  arms  ? 

Mammon.  'Tis  arson  marching  in  a  warlike  garb, 
And  barbarism  licensed  to  destroy. 

Satan.  'Tis  the  accomplishment  of  well-laid  plans, 
Which  I  have  worked  for  nearly  fourscore  years. 
The  hatreds  of  the  sections  I  have  stirred 
Until  they  stop  at  nothing  in  their  rage. 
It  was  not  thus  that  Scott  fought  Mexico, 
Nor  thus  that  Grant  and  Sherman  learned  to  fight. 
'Twas  I  that  taught  this  modern  art  of  war. 

Mammon.  This  burning  property  finds  no  excuse, 
Nothing  to  palliate  such  wanton  waste. 

Mars.  My  grand  old  heathen  heroes  would  have 

scorned 
To  drive  out  widows  from  their  peaceful  homes 


202  THE  AMEUICAN  EPIC. 

Or  banish  infancy  from  cradle-beds. 
They  fought  with  men — with  stalwart  men  in  arms. 
Home's  worst  fanatics  never  could  have  driv'u 
The  mighty  Julius  to  perform  such  deeds. 

Satan.  I  marvel  greatly  at  my  own  success 
In  banishing  from  peaceful,  quiot  homes 
Defenseless  thousands  to  far  western  scenes 
To  toil  among  their  distant  enemies, 
Or  die  from  home  and  much  loved  native  laud. 

Belial.  And  so  do  I.    How  was  it  all  contrived? 

Satan.  These  Georgians  are  the  saints  of  the  Most 

High. 

His  angels  guard  and  train  them  for  the  skies; 
His  providence  works  all  things  for  their  good. 
But  earthly  retribution  gave  me  power 
To  have  them  banished  as  the  Cherokces, 
By  Georgians  banished,  lost  their  native  land. 

Mammon.  God  gave  the  Cherokees  a  better  land. 
He'll  make  these  Georgians  profit  by  their  loss ! 
So  end  in  disappointment  all  our  schemes 
Against  the  servants  of  the  Lord  most  high. 

Satan.  Mammon,  you  have  of  late  grown  insolent. 
Like  other  purse-proud  people,  you're  too  bold. 

Belial.  Yes,  that  he  is.     He  even  prates  against 
My  chosen  crony,  great  Tecumseh  S. 
What  if  he  does  burn  towns  and  cities  here? 
That  Indian  name  avenges  Cherokees. 

Mars.  The  red  Tecumseh  whose  great  name  ho  wears 
Never  made  war  on  women  and  on  babes, 
Nor  fired  the  cities  of  his  enemies. 
A  thousand  Proctors,  Stantons,  or  the  like, 
In  vain  had  put  red  torches  in  his  hands. 

Satan.  More  than  four  months  have  passed  since  we 

met  here. 

Then  Johnston  was  besieged  by  mighty  hosts. 
Please  tell  us  how  the  war  is  going  since. 


JOHNSTON  SUPERSEDED  BY  HOOD.  203 

Mars.  Johnston  was  superseded  by  brave  Hood." 
In  three  assaults  upon  the  Union  lines 
The  new  commander  lost  more  fighting  men 
Than  Johnston  had  in  quite  as  many  months. 
At  last  to  save  his  army  Hood  marched  off, 
And  with  September  Sherman  entered  in 
And  took  possession  of  his  costly  prize, 
In  four  months  losing  forty  thousand  men, 
Among  them  McPherson,  his  noblest  chief. 
He  still  has  sixty  thousand  well-armed  troops 
Marching  triumphant  eastward  to  the  sea; 
While  Hood  moves  backward,  hoping  to  cut  off 
Sherman's  connection  with  the  great  North-west. 
Vain  hope !     He  leads  his  heroes  back  to  face 
O'erwhelrning  numbers  of  his  well-drilled  foes, 
Led  by  the  very  ablest  of  their  chiefs. 
One  only  chance  has  he  of  victory : 
Fanatic  fury  never  can  forgive 
Thomas  for  being  born  on  Southern  soil. 
The  imbeciles  at  Washington  propose 
To  move  the  gen'ral  from  his  high  command. 
'Tis  said  that  Grant  puts  Logan  in  his  place. 
If  this  be  done,  Hood  may  expect  success. 

Satan.  What  of  the  armies  under  Lee  and  Grant? 

Mars.  They  fight  like  crazy  fiends  at  Petersburg, 
Where  greedy,  gaping  graves  swallow  in  haste 
Uncounted  thousands  slaughtered  day  by  day, 
Replaced  by  victims  drawn  from  ev'ry  land. 

Satan.  You  told  of  Early  threat'ning  Washington, 
Alarming  the  weak  rulers  of  the  land, 
Whipping  Lew  Wallace  near  Monocacy. 
Was  he  allowed  in  safety  to  escape  ? 

Mars.  He  was;  and  took  vast  quantities  of  stores. 
Wright  followed  him  as  far  as  Winchester. 
But  Early  turned  and  drove  Wright's  army  back; 
Then  captured  Chambersburg,  demanding  cash 
To  pay  for  buildings  Hunter  had  burned  down, 


204  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Which  they  refused.     Then,  to  retaliate, 

He  turned  barbarian,  and  pent  a  torch 

To  fire  the  town;  retreated  from  the  State, 

With  rich  supplies  of  military  stores. 

Then  Sheridan,  with  forty  thousand  men, 

Defeated  Early  and  began  his  work 

Of  desolation  with  both  ax  and  torch. 

Leaving  his  vandal  task  to  underlings, 

He  sought  his  patrons  at  the  capital, 

To  tell  of  all  the  wonders  he  had  wrought. 

Early  returned,  surprised  the  Union  camp, 

Scattered  and  drove  the  troops  like  frightened  sheep, 

Took  their  artillery  and  all  their  stores. 

Then  the  Confed'rates  stopped  to  rest  and  eat, 

But  Sheridan,  returning,  met  his  men, 

Turned  back  the  fugitives  and  made  them  fight, 

Till  they  recovered  the  great  guns  they  lost, 

And  with  them  won  a  noted  victory. 

Since  then  the  war-worn  valley's  plundered  homos 

Have  no  defense  against  consuming  fires. 

The  helplessness  of  outraged  innocence 

Sees  food  and  barns  and  mills  and  fences  blaze, 

Revealing  famine's  ghastly  countenance. 

Satan.  How  fares  the  navy  in  these  fighting  times? 

Mars.  The  Union  fleets  blockade  the  Southern  coasts, 
Seal  up  Confederate  ports  and  banish  trade. 
Lieutenant  Gushing  sunk  the  "Albcmarlo  " 
In  Eoanoke  River  with  a  torpedo. 
'Twas  bravely  done,  and  won  him  much  applause. 
In  Mobile  Harbor  Farragut  displayed 
Great  skill  and  courage  as  an  admiral. 
Lashed  to  his  flag-ship's  rigging  he  remained 
Till  forts  and  ships  and  monster  iron-clad  rams 
Pulled  down  their  flags  and  Mobile  was  his  prize. 
Confed'rate  ships  have  fought  most  gallantly, 
Destroying  commerce  at  a  fearful  rate, 
Making  their  flag  the  terror  of  the  seas, 
But  gaining  nothing  for  their  pinking  cause. 
Yet  "Alabama,"  "  Sumtcr,"  "  Florida," 


THE  "ALABAMA"  DESTROYED.  205 

And  other  softly  spoken  Southern  names 

Sent  consternation  among  Northern  ships. 

When  Semmes  met  Winslow  on  the  coast  of  France, 

A  foeman  worthy  of  his  steel  was  found. 


THE  "SCMTER"  CHASED  BY  THE  "IROQUOIS 


An  hour  of  battle  ended  in  defeat 
To  Semmes,  who  saw  the  "Alabama  "  sunk. 
An  English  yacht  saved  the  brave  captain's  life, 
But  Winslow  on  the  "Kearsarge"  won  the  fight, 
And  proudly  walked  his  deck  a  conqueror. 


BOOK  TENTH. 


Scene :  Tlie  Capitol,  Nashvitte,  Tenn.,  December  1C,  1SG4. 

Mars.  From  this  proud  Capitol  how  grand  the  view  ! 
Rome's  seven  hills  by  seven  multiplied 
Could  never  match  what  we  behold  to-day; 
Nor  had  the  Tiber,  in  its  hour  of  pride, 
Such  sparkling  waters  as  the  Cumberland, 
Nor  all  antiquity  a  braver  man 
Than  he  whose  statue  will  adorn  these  grounds.' 
His  heroism  might  have  well  sufficed 
For  twice  ten  thousand  ordinary  men, 
With  quite  enough  to  make  a  Caesar  left. 
The  recollection  of  his  glorious  deeds, 
Inspiring  generations  yet  unborn 
"With  patriotic  valor,  shall  raise  up 
Defenders  of  his  much  loved  native  land 
Against  all  foes  throughout  all  time  to  come. 

Satan.  What  of  the  living  issues  of  these  times? 
What  can  you  say  of  yesterday's  great -fight? 

Mars.  Thomas,  the  conq'ring  hero  of  the  day, 
Is  much  the  ablest  gen'ral  of  the  North, 
But  never  fully  trusted  by  the  men 
Who  rule  to  ruin  this  great  government. 
To  serve  them  he  had  trampled  on  State  pride, 
Fought  for  the  North  and  her  compatriots, 
Gave  his  Virginia  talents  to  their  cause, 
Won  vict'ries  for  them,  saved  them  in  defeat, 
Endured  Virginia's  blushes  and  her  frowns, 
Through  sadd'ning  years  of  sanguinnry  war. 
The  rulers,  hating  his  brave  Southern  blood, 
Had  issued  orders,  and  had  sent  them  on, 
Dismissing  Thomas  from  his  high  command. 
(206) 


GEN.  HOOD  AT  NASHVILLE.  207 

Satan.  How  could  ho  lead  the  army  if  removed? 

Mars.  His  generalship  had  taught  him  when  to  strike 
And  vict'ry  taught  the  prudent  messenger 
That  orders  from  his  master  came  too  late 
To  vanquish  such  a  victor  and  disgrace 
The  hero  of  so  many  gallant  deeds. 
Hood  had  come  north,  indulging  in  high  hopes; 
At  Franklin  fought  with  Schotield,  who  retired 
Behind  intrenchnients  Thomas  had  thrown  up, 


GENERAL  HOOD'S  HEAD-QUARTERS  NEAR  NASHVILLE. 

While  Hood  made  ready  to  begin  the  siege, 
Thomas  moved  from  his  works  and  routed  him. 
Hood  and  his  men  fought  bravely  to  the  last; 
But  yesterday  his  bleeding,  shattered  ranks 
Turned  sadly  southward,  fleeing  from  their  foes, 
With  five  and  twenty  thousand  comrades  lost. 
Thomas  and  Schoficld,  coming  up  the  walk 
Meet  Andrew  Johnson,  the  war  Governor. 


208  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene :  Columbia,  S.   C.,  February  20, 1865.    ABDIEL,  ITHURIEL, 
ZEPHON,  RAPHAEL. 

Abdiel.  War  fills  the  earth  with  most  atrocious  crimes. 
The  righteous  sulfur  and  require  our  aid. 
I  followed  Sherman's  forces  to  the  sea, 
And  saw  Hardec,  with  fifteen  thousand  men, 
Forsake  Savannah  and  retire  in  haste, 
While  Sherman's  forces' proudly  entered  in. 
I've  seen  the  sky  lit  up  with  hellish  flames, 
And  heard  the  shrieks  of  outraged  innocence, 
And  helped  in  many  a  case  of  sore  distress, 
But  never  witnessed  aught  that  equals  deeds 
Of  lawless  villains  in  this  commonwealth. 

Ithuriel.  I  found  the  saintly  Bach  man  in  the  hands 
Of  ruffians  who  wore  Union  shoulder-straps. 
Cod's  aged  servant  suffers  their  abuse 
Because  he  shielded  helpless  womanhood. 
I  had  them  captured  by  the  good  man's  friends 
And  brought  to  beg  for  mercy  at  his  feet. 
He  spared  them,  and  refused  to  have  them  slain. 

Zephon.  I  turned  away  the  furious  tongues  of  flame 
That  threatened  to  consume  the  lowly  home 
Where  faithful  Dinah  trusted  God  and  prayed. 

• 

Raphael.  I  saw  Hardce  leave  Charleston  with  his 

troops ; 

And  from  devouring  flames  I  rescued  men, 
And  saved  fair  women  from  ills  worse  than  death. 
The  old  flag  floats  in  triumph  o'er  this  State 
But  to  protect  base  bummers,  thieves,  and  brutes, 
Turned  loose  to  prey  upon  defenseless  homes. 
How  long,  how  long  will  Sherman's  Christian  men 
Permit  their  troops  t'  indulge  in  such  black  crimes? 
Northward  the  army  moves  in  grand  array, 
While  conflagrations  blaze  along  its  march, 
And  fiendish  men  stray  from  its  serried  ranks 
To  carry  consternation  to  sad  homes. 
Behold  the  hell-hounds  searching  for  their  prey! 


JOHNSTON'S  LAST  BATTLES.  209 

Scene :  Benionville,  N.  C.,  March  19, 1865.      MAES,  BELIAL,  MAM 
MON. 

Mars.  The  oft  defeated  army  still  fights  on. 
This  morning  Johnston,  who  commands  again, 
Attacked  his  enemies  and  would  have  gained 
A  glorious  victory  but  for  the  fight 
Made  by  brave  troops  by  Jeff  C.  Davis  led. 
They  held  the  field  and  saved  the  scattered  hosts. 

Belial.  No  wonder  Johnston  hoped  for  victory. 
Hosts  of  base  fellows  of  the  vilest  class 
Went  off  from  Sherman's  army  to  attack 
Weak  women,  little  children,  and  poor  slaves. 

Mammon.  And  larger  numbers  of  my  thieving  friends 
Were  absent  laying  hold  on  property. 
Kirkpatrick's  cavalry  rode  forth  in  pride 
To  strike  at  Hampton  on  the  eighth  of  March; 
But  they  were  driv'n  for  refuge  to  the  swamps, 
And  hardly  managed  to  escape  on  foot, 
Saved  by  a  part  of  Slocum's  army  corps. 
Two  more  strong  army  corps  approach  this  place. 
See  !  their  successful  leaders  come  this  way. 
There's  valiant  Terry,  whose  brave  forces  took 
Fort  Fisher  after  B.  F.  Butler  failed; 
And  there  is  Schofield,  late  in  Tennessee, 
When  Thomas  scattered  Hood's  most  valiant  troops. 

Scene:  Steps  of  the  Capitol,  Richmond,  Fa.,  Sunday  morning,  April  3, 
1865.    GABRIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZEPHON,  URIEL. 

Raphael.  How  lovely  is  this  sacred  Sabbath-day! 
How  bright  the  sunshine,  and  how  green  the  hills 
Reflected  by  James  River's  crystal  flood ! 
See  swelling  buds  adorning  ev'ry  tree, 
And  song-birds  making  charming  melody. 
The  sound  of  sweet-toned  bells  invites  to  prayer. 
The  little  ones  already  sing  God's  praise, 
And  lovely  women  lead  their  joyful  songs. 
The  aged  and  infirm  send  up  to  heav'n 
Devout  thanksgiving  for  celestial  gifts. 
The  pris'ners  and  the  wounded  call  on  God 
For  gracious  help  in  this  their  time  of  need. 
14 


210  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  pious  slaves,  with  rich  religious  joy, 
Crowd  to  the  temples  of  the  living  God. 
Blessed  with  the  liberty  that  Jesus  gives, 
Their  human  bondage  lightly  bears  on  them. 
So  much  of  grace  pervades  this  atmosphere 
It  seems  a  happy  half-way  place  to  heav'n. 
And  this,  in  spite  of  vast  beleaguering  hosts 
That  gather  to  destroy  these  Christian  homes. 

Ithuriel.  Yes,  and  the  war  grows  fiercer  hour  by  hour. 
Six  thousand  men  were  captured  yesterday 
From  the  defeated  army  of  the  South. 
'Tis  whispered  Petersburg  must  shortly  yield; 
And  when  it  falls,  Richmond  must  share  its  fate. 
But  see!  the  ministers  of  God  go  forth 
To  lead  the  worship  of  good  citizens 
In  all  the  sanctity  of  godliness. 
There's  Duncan,  Doggett,  Minnegerode,  and  Hoguc; 
And  there  is  Burroughs,  an  adopted  son, 
True  to  his  foster-mother  to  the  last. 
Promiscuous  crowds  now  pass  on  solemnly, 
Gazing  intently  upon  Washington, 
Whose  statue  seems  to  bless  them  from  its  height. 

Uriel.  There  is  the  President,  with  form  erect; 
Ho  seeks  support  from  Him  who  governs  all. 
God  help  that  honored  heir  of  many  woes! 
This  day  Grant  orders  a  severe  assault 
By  such  a  force  as  never  charged  before. 

Zephon.  And  must  these  saints  surrender  to  their  foes? 

Gabriel.  'Tis  possible.    "  God  chastens  whom  he  loves." 
Let  us  unseen  go  worship  where  they  meet. 

Scene:  Richmond,    Va.,  noon,  April  2,  18G5.    SATAN,  MAMMON, 
CHEMOSH,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  Ha,  comrades,  this  religious  calm  soon  ends  I 
Strange  people  are  these  pious  Southerners! 
I  moved  my  people  greedily  for  gain 
To  bring  barbarian  slaves  to  this  fair  land, 
Hoping  to  so  demoralize  the  whites 
That  with  their  servants  they  would  sink  to  hell. 


RICHMOND  STILL  GOES  TO  CHURCH.  211 

But  the  black  wretches  soon  were  taught  to  pray 

And  hymn  the  praises  of  the  Lord  most  high. 

Another  generation  would  have  swept 

Th'  improving  Ethiops  far  from  my  control, 

While  those  who  ruled  them  gracefully  displayed 

Devotion,  piety,  and  holy  zeal, 

With  morals  pure  and  manners  so  refined 

As  won  the  admiration  of  mankind. 

I  gave  them  war  and  drenched  their  land  with  blood; 

And  yet  while  millions  threaten  them  with  death, 

They  pray  and  sing  and  preach,  and  offer  Christ 

To  ev'ry  ragamuffin  in  their  camps. 

And  Richmond  with  the  "  Bummers"  at  her  doors, 

Still  goes  to  Church  and  keeps  the  Sabbath-day. 

I'll  let  her  know  hell  hates  such  worshipers ! 

Her  pious  homes,  consumed  by  raging  flames, 

Shall  give  her  children  to  the  midnight  storms. 

I'll  wreak  my  fury  on  the  whole  broad  land, 

My  foot-prints  now  are  seen  in  battle-fields, 

In  countless  graves  and  trenches  of  the  slain, 

In  piles  of  ruins  and  in  rising  smoke. 

Proud,  patient  people  look  upon  it  all, 

And  say  they  trust  in  God  for  better  days. 

But  they  shall  yet  "  curse  the  great  God  and  die." 

Some  shall  be  banished  to  far  foreign  climes; 

The  gloom  of  dungeons  others  shall  enshroud, 

While  iron  fetters  cramp  most  honored  forms. 

Worse  still!  worse  still !  these  pious  polished  saints 

Shall  have  for  rulers  through  long,  weary  months 

The  lowest,  vilest,  most  outrageous  tools 

That  earth  or  hell  or  the  whole  universe 

Can  furnish  to  my  hand  to  govern  them. 

Mammon.  Ho !  Satan,  did  you  see  that  messenger, 
Who  at  the  Church  called  out  the  President  ? 
Lee  is  retreating  now  from  Petersburg. 
Richmond  must  also  soon  bo  given  up, 
And  there  will  be  much  booty  to  divide. 

Belial.  And  there  will  be  disorder  here  to-night. 
Baal.  And  fires  will  blaze  extensively  around. 


212  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Chemosh.  The  worshipers  desert  the  churches  now 
Belus.  The  rulers  are  assembling  in  hot  haste. 

Mammon.  The  treasure  chests  go  rumbling  toward  the 

cars, 

Guarded  by  trusty  soldiers  with  due  care. 
There's  Davis,  Breckinridge,  and  their  small  force, 
Bound  for  Amelia  Court-house  to  meet  Lee. 
Thence  to  seek  Johnston  and  combine  their  strength. 

Satan.  But  I  have  counteracted  their  design. 
Starvation  will  confront  them  at  that  place, 
To  Danville  I  have  forwarded  the  trains. 
To-morrow  enemies  will  triumph  here. 
Soon  the  whole  South  must  yield  to  conquerors. 

Scene:  McLean' 's   Orchard,  Appomattox  Court-house,  Va.t  1  o'clock, 
April  9,  1865. 

ITzziel.  Contending  armies  still  surround  our  steps 
And  dying  groans  are  heard  on  ev'ry  hand. 

Abdiel.  The  strife  grows  fiercer  as  if  near  its  close. 

Ithuriel.  At  Deatonsvillc  Leo  lost  six  thousand  men, 
At  Farmville  burned  the  bridges  in  his  rear, 
Sent  Longstrcet  to  secure  the  Lynch  burg  road 
To  give  his  starving  troops  a  safe  retreat; 
But  Sheridan  was  there  to  drive  him  back, 
And  close  the  only  pathway  of  escape. 

Raphael.  Then  must  the  dauntless  hero  soon  submit. 

ZophieL  Already  the  conditions  have  been  named 
On  which  the  troops  of  Leo  lay  down  their  arms. 
The  gcn'rous  magnanimity  of  Grant 
In  this  his  hour  of  triumph  and  renown 
Is  admirable,  and  deserves  high  praise. 
Lee's  dignity  and  grandeur  in  defeat 
Crown  the  illustrious  hero  of  the  South 
With  the  completeness  of  a  character 
By  grace  refined,  by  suff'ring  perfected. 
Behold  the  foremost  men  of  this  broad  land! 
Grant  leads  the  millions  of  a  conq'ring  host; 


LEE  AND  GRANT. 

Lee,  in  adversity,  stands  forth  confessed 

The  noblest  product  of  the  centuries — 

A  peerless,  modest,  brave,  heroic,  grand, 

Unostentatious  Christian  gentleman ! 

Earth  has  no  soldier  worthy  to  receive 

The  battle-blade  of  such  a  man  as  Lee. 

Grant  knows  it.     He  will  never  take  that  sword  ! 

But  leave  it  to  be  wielded  by  the  hand 

Of  him  from  whom  he  learned  in  joyous  youth 

With  stainless  hand  to  grasp  the  spotless  prize 

Fame  offers  to  the  valiant  and  the  pure. 


213 


THE   HOUSE  WHERE  LEE  SURRENDERED. 

Scene:  Ford's  Theater,  Washington,  D.  C.,  April  U,  1865.    SATAN, 
BELIAL. 

Belial.  Satan,  what  next?    Your  war  must  shortly  end. 
Johnston's  and  Kirby  Smith's  and  other  troops 
Must  soon  surrender  and  go  home  to  work. 

Satan.  Yes,  and  the  Fed'ral  army  will  disband; 
But  my  great  conflict  with  the  pow'rs  above 
Knows  no  cessation,  nor  an  hour  of  truce: 


214  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

I  now  propose  a  bloody  tragedy 

To  startle  angels  and  astound  mankind. 

An  actor  here,  who  from  his  infancy 

Has  been  familiar  with  the  tragic  stage, 

Has  long  sought  opportunity  to  seize 

The  President  and  all  his  cabinet, 

And  hasten  with  them  through  the  Southern  lines 

As  pris'ners  to  negotiate  for  peace. 

Of  course  he  failed;  but  his  poor  silly  dupes, 

Hare-brained  and  stage-struck,  wait  upon  his  will, 

Beady  to  deal  out  death  if  he  commands. 

The  conquered  South  in  hopeless  ruin  lies; 

Its  rulers  even  now  are  fugitives. 

This  actor's  best  loved  friend  was  doomed  to  death 

For  a  most  daring  feat  performed  by  Beall 

Upon  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake; 

The  President  refused  to  save  Booth's  friend. 

Booth's  crazed,  and  I  have  instigated  him 

To  act  the  assassin  on  this  very  night, 

While  his  copartners  in  this  dreadful  crime 

Seek  noted  victims  in  their  quiet  homes. 

Behold  the  actor,  with  a  deadly  aim 

To  slay  the  nation's  most  important  man, 

Kindling  to  fury  all  the  wrathful  flames 

That  now  between  the  angry  sections  blaze ! 

GABRIEL  enters. 

Gabriel.  Horror  of  horrors !  blackest  of  all  crimes! 
A  bold  assassin  slays  the  President. 
Quite  unfamiliar  with  theatric  scenes, 
I'm  here  too  late  to  save  him  from  his  fate. 
Satan's  malignity  has  triumphed  here. 

Scene:  Durham,  N.  C.,  April  18, 1865.    MICHAEL,  UZZIEL,  ARIEL. 

Ariel.  Nine  days  have  passed  jsince  Lee's  brave  veterans 
Laid  down  their  arms  and  homeward  turned  their  steps, 
In  peace  to  tread  the  paths  of  poverty; 
Will  Johnston  still  in  bloody  strife  engage, 
Aiming  by  swift  retreat  toward  Mexico 
To  prop  the  throne  that  Maximilian  claims  ? 


JOHNSTON,  SHERMAN,  BRECKINRIDGE.  215 

Michael.  He  will  not.     Never  will  Americans 
Uphold  an  Austrian  despot  on  these  shores. 
But  if  they  would,  the  forces  led  by  Grant 
Hedge  up  all  roads  that  lead  troops  westwardly. 
When  Lee's  surrender  sealed  the  Southland's  fate, 
Her  sons  determined  blood  should  cease  to  flow. 
Troops  of  the  South  fought  for  their  principles; 
Failing  to  win,  they  nobly  claim  their  place 
Under  the  flag  'neath  which  their  fathers  stood, 
And  standing  firm  defy  a  world  in  arms. 

Uzzid.  'Tis  said  that  Sherman  offers  Johnston  terms 
By  which  his  soldiers  become  citizens, 
Restored  to  all  the  rights  that  were  secured 
When  British  foes  were  driven  from  this  land. 
O'er  Lee  and  Grant  the  flower  of  chivalry 
Bloomed  in  the  light  of  Christian  principle, 
And  men  wore  superhuman  dignity. 
Now  Sherman  to  the  troops  of  Johnston  gives 
The  conquered  all  the  rights  that  conq'rors  claim. 
He  uses  language  such  as  charmed  mankind 
When  Thomas  Jefferson  still  lived  and  wrote 
Of  civil  liberty  and  equal  rights. 
Sherman,  the  hero,  shows  wise  statesmanship, 
With  scholarly  perfection  unexcelled. 

Michael.  'Tis  Brcckinridgc  whose  classic  statesmanship 
Deserves  the  plaudits  you  to  Sherman  pay. 
The  Fed'ral  chieftain  first  denied  the  right 
Of  a  civilian  to  take  any  part 
In  the  affairs  of  military  men, 
But  when  reminded  that  his  visitor 
Had  been  an  active  Major-general, 
And  of  the  War  Department  had  been  chief, 
lie  kindly  condescended  to  permit 
The  great  man  to  be  present  and  assist. 
Then  did  the  might,  the  majesty  of  mind 
Assert  its  natural  supremacy, 
As  Breckinridge  dictated  Sherman's  terms 
In  the  most  polished  language  of  the  schools, 
Until  the  hero  marching  toward  the  sea, 


216  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Charmed  by  the  blandishments  of  Breckinridge, 

Declared  that  with  but  one  more  social  drink 

He  had  commanded  his  entire  consent 

To  give  his  conq'ring  army  to  his  foe, 

And  yield  himself  a  pris'ner  of  war. 

But  as  it  is  under  the  great  man's  lead 

The  Fed'ral  gen'ral  plays  the  dictator 

To  elevate  the  men  that  Johnston  led ; 

And  who  shall  venture  to  deny  his  right, 

As  a  supreme  commander  in  the  field, 

To  dictate  terms  to  his  own  prisoners  ? 

Ariel.  'Twas  fortunate  that  Breckinridge  was  here 
To  be  the  advocate  of  worthy  men. 

SATAN  approaches. 

Satan.  Ha,  Michael!  I  yet  rule  this  lower  world; 
I  rule  to  ruin  your  most  hopeful  plans. 

Michael.  But,  Satan,  in  his  day  of  mighty  power 
The  President,  like  Sherman,  is  most  kind, 
And  much  disposed  to  pardon  all  his  foes. 

Satan.  The  President !     He  has  been  dead  three  days, 
And  I  control  the  madness  of  these  times. 
Fanatic  fury  drives  to  bloody  deeds, 
Wreaking  its  vengeance  upon  multitudes; 
It  e'en  hates  Sherman  for  his  last  kind  act, 
And  soon  will  wrest  all  power  from  his  hands. 
Lincoln  would  have  restrained  it;  he  is  gone. 
It  would  hang  Lee  and  Johnston  if  it  could, 
And  millions  of  the  people  of  the  South. 
This  Breckinridge,  with  all  his  wondrous  gifts, 
'Twill  to  the  ocean  drive  in  a  frail  skiff. 
But,  Michael,  I've  no  time  to  waste  on  you: 
This  is  my  most  important  harvest  time. 

Michael.  Perverted  talents,  as  in  Satan  seen, 
Are  quite  enough  to  make  archangels  weep. 
Capacities  for  good,  in  men  unused, 
All  run  to  waste  because  of  enmity. 


HE  DISTANCED  ALL  RIVALS.  217 

A  hundred  thousand  filled  not  Johnston's  place 

When  ho  no  longer  was  in  high  command; 

Yet  this  great  nation  ostracises  him, 

And  would  if  fiercest  foes  were  raging  round. 

Such  is  the  fruit  of  war  between  the  States; 

So  Breckinridgc,  a  statesman  from  his  youth, 

Will  soon  be  banished  from  the  land  ho  loves. 

Uncounted  generations  of  the  past 

Hereditary  virtues  have  sent  down 

To  give  in  him  "  assurance  of  a  man  " 

Possessed  of  every  needed  excellence. 

With  Bucna  Vista's  laurels  on  his  brow, 

Wit,  genius,  learning,  talents  in  his  brain, 

And  oratory  flowing  from  his  lips; 

Honors  came  crowding  thickly  round  his  steps, 

And  fame  proclaimed  his  greatness  in  his  youth. 

He  distanced  competition,  and  looked  down 

On  every  rival  of  his  grand  career, 

Until  the  highest  place  was  in  his  reach 

That  any  nation  ever  had  to  give, 

And  then  lamented  that  they  had  not  more 

To  lavish  on  the  object  of  their  love. 

But  fiery  factions  blazed  around  his  path, 

And  drove  him  from  his  highway  of  renown 

To  give  a  section  talents  that  belonged 

To  every  foot  of  his  dear  native  land. 

True  to  his  friends,  he  fought  their  battles  well, 

When  fiercer  partisans  had  ceased  to  fight, 

Upheld  their  government  until  it  fell 

A  pile  of  hopeless  ruins  at  his  feet. 

Then  sent  his  kinsman  of  the  silv'ry  tongue, 

Most  eloquent  of  all  his  country's  sons, 

With  true  Kentuckians  to  guard  the  way 

Of  his  great  chieftain  through  the  forest's  gloom ; 

Till  Davis  chose  seclusion  as  his  guard, 

And  was  betrayed  by  darkness  to  his  foes. 

Kentucky's  hero  grandly  gave  himself; 

No  other  had  so  much  to  sacrifice 

On  friendship's  altar  for  his  countrymen — 

Youth,  health,  wealth,  office,  power,  promotion,  fame — 

But  Breckinridge  gave  all  to  honor's  cause. 


218  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Scene:  Capitol,  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  SO,  18G5.    GABRIEL,  ITHU- 

RIEL. 

Gabriel.  Once  more  peace  walks  the  earth  with  grace 
ful  steps, 

Most  gently  stretching  forth  her  loving  hands, 
Releasing  pris'ncrs  and  disarming  foes, 
Disbanding  armies  and  conducting  home 
Husbands  long  banished  from  their  loving  wives, 
Sons  to  their  parents,  lovers  to  fond  maids, 
And  fathers  to  their  little,  prattling  babes. 
On  yesterday  the  new-made  President 
Proclaimed  amnesty  to  Confederates, 
Except  a  few  conspicuous  characters. 
They'll  hasten  to  repair  the  waste  of  war, 
And  with  the  hand  of  industry  invite 
Prosperity  to  visit  their  abodes. 

Ithuriel.  But  will  it  come  since  laborers  are  free  ? 

Gabriel.   Our  God  has  done  so  much  t'  enrich  these 

States, 

No  enemies  can  keep  their  people  poor. 
Two  questions  have  been  settled  by  the  war: 
The  slaves  are  free,  the  Union  permanent. 
If  it's  oppressive,  there's  no  remedy; 
To  this  rash  revolution  all  submit. 
Secession  and  disunion  now  are  dead, 
And  with  them  negro  slavery  expired. 
This  change  admitted,  other  things  remain 
As  they  have  been  for  nearly  eighty  years. 
The  North  made  war  for  union,  so  she  said, 
And  freed  the  slaves  in  order  to  success. 
She  has  succeeded,  and  of  course  the  States 
Are  in  the  places  which  they  tried  to  leave. 
So  Lincoln  said,  and  so  says  Johnson  now. 
This  was  the  theory  on  which  the  war 
Was  prosecuted  to  its  bloody  end. 
Men  who  believe  that  States  might  freely  leave 
Of  course  denied  the  right  to  drive  them  back; 
But  if  the  Constitution  gave  the  right 
To  coerce  States  and  force  them  to  remain. 
Or  drive  the  straying  wand'rers  back  again, 


RASH,  ROUGH,  AND  BRA  VE.  219 

'Twas  to  the  very  places  that  they  left, 
With  all  their  rights  and  duties  unimpaired; 
If  not,  coercion  was  atrocious  crime. 

Ithuriel.  But  you  forget  that  Satan  heads  the  gang 
Of  desperadoes  that  now  rule  the  land; 
You'll  not  expect  consistency  in  them, 
They  would  have  deposed  Lincoln,  had  he  lived 
T'  oppose  their  furious  onslaughts  on  the  South. 
To  them  the  Constitution  and  the  laws 
Seem  "  leagues  with  death  and  covenants  with  hell " 
When  they  protect  the  people  of  the  South 
Against  malicious,  furious,  fiendish  rage. 
Johnson  has  hated  aristocracy, 
Proclaimed  himself  the  champion  of  the  poor; 
Has  loved  the  Union,  and  has  risked  his  life 
In  its  defense  among  its  enemies. 
He  may  be  rash  and  rough,  but  he  is  brave, 
And  will  uphold  th'  authority  of  law; 
What  seems  to  him  his  duty  he'll  perform 
In  spite  of  whatsoever  may  oppose. 
Vindictive  cruelty  may  sometimes  hurl 
Unnecessary  insults  at  his  foes, 
And  suff' ring,  too,  if  they're  of  high  degree; 
But  to  the  lowly  he  is  ever  kind. 
Behold  the  poor  man's  ever  faithful  friend! 
Th'  unpurchasable  champion  of  the  poor 
Boldly  defies  the  hosts  of  Mammon  led 
In  this  proud  capitol,  where  capital 
Controls  the  legislation  of  the  land, 
And  dominates  obsequious  cabinets. 

Scene:  Richmond,  Va.,  May,  1867.    ABDIEL,  ARIEL,  ZOPHIEL,  ZE- 

PHON. 

Abdiel.  What  brings  my  faithful  comrades  here  to-day? 

Ariel.  We  come  th'  escort  of  one  who  needs  our  aid ; 
Two  years  have  passed  since  Davis  ceased  to  rule 
The  noblest  people  earth  has  ever  seen. 
Since  then  this  chosen  ruler  has  become 
A  great  vicarious  suff 'rer  for  his  class 
And  for  the  people  over  whom  he  ruled. 


220  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Zephon.  How  so?    And  why  should  ho  such  suff 'rings 
bear? 

Ariel.  Some  think  t'  avenge  the  wrongs  of  negro  slaves, 
And  vindicate  the  government  of  God. 

Zop/uel.  Did  not  our  God  give  laws  to  govern  slaves  ? 
And  did  not  that  convey  a  right  t'  enslave? 

Ariel.  God  did  give  laws  to  govern  human  slaves, 
But  not  a  law  to  make  of  freemen  slaves. 
Man  kidnaps  man:  thus  slavery  begins. 
The  kidnapper  was  wicked,  and  his  prey, 
Per  possibility,  more  wicked  still. 
The  rude  barbarians  became  merchandise 
By  commerce  taken  to  plantation  homes. 
The  master  can  be  fiend-like,  if  he  will, 
And  suffer  for  the  sins  that  he  commits; 
Or,  like  the  friend  of  God,  great  Abraham, 
May  train  the  servants  born  in  his  own  house 
To  be  the  valiant  soldiers  of  the  Lord. 
The  law  of  God  to  masters  and  to  slaves 
Proposes  to  bestow  upon  them  both 
The  glorious  freedom  of  the  sons  of  God. 

Zophiel.  Where  rests  the  guilt  of  human  slavery 
As  it  existed  in  the  Southern  States? 

Ariel.  For  more  than  fourscore  years  the  British 

king, 

And  his  rich  lords  of  trade  forced  negro  slaves 
Upon  the  people  of  their  colonies. 
Virginia  protested;  but  the  rude  blacks, 
To  make  the  British  rich,  were  sent  in  droves. 
The  far-famed  "  bargain  "  which  New  England  made 
With  Georgians  and  with  Carolinians 
To  bring  them  slaves  for  fully  twenty  years, 
Doubled  the  numbers  of  the  servile  race. 
In  spite  of  protests  from  the  other  States 
The  East  received  millions  of  yellow  gold 
For  black  slaves  bought  with  rum,  and  in  exchange 
For  souls  of  white  men  unto  Satan  given. 


SAINTLY  WOMEN  OF  THE  SOUTH.  221 

Zophiel.  Did  not  the  mad  men  of  tho  North  predict 
An  insurrection  of  tho  Southern  slaves, 
Filling  the  land  with  arson,  murder,  lust, 
And  nameless  horrors  such  as  Hayti  saw? 

Ariel.  They  did.     It  was  not  soldiers,  arms,  nor  forts 
Kept  their  predictions  from  becoming  true; 
Nor  politicians  nor  patrolling  guards 
Preserved  the  sanctity  of  Southern  homes. 
'Twas  Christian  love  among  religious  slaves 
That  neutralized  barbai'ian  viciousncss. 
The  saintly  women  of  the  sunny  South, 
Gentle,  refined,  meek,  modest,  pious,  pure, 
Most  beautiful,  most  lovely,  and  best  loved 
Of  all  Eve's  fairest,  fascinating  train, 
Have  claimed  the  sooty  children  of  their  slaves 
For  virtuous  heirs  of  immortality: 
Meek,  humble  followers  of  Jesus  Christ. 
John  Brown  and  his  most  fiendish  followers 
In  vain  have  hoped  for  San  Domingan  scenes 
Among  tho  true  disciples  of  the  Lamb. 

Zophiel.  If  slavery  thus  Christianizes  slaves, 
Why  not  enslave  the  whole  of  Africa  ? 

Ariel.  So  thousands  argued  against  common  sense. 
It  did  not  save  the  slaves  of  other  lands : 
'Twas  Christianity  that  Christianized. 
The  Methodists  and  Baptists  of  the  South 
Have  brought  more  Africans  to  Jesus  Christ 
Than  have  been  gathered  upon  heathen  ground 
Of  all  earth's  tribes  by  all  earth's  ministers. 

Zophiel.  You  charge  the  guilt  of  Southern  slaver}' 
Against  Great  Britain  and  New  England  States; 
Does  no  part  of  it  rest  upon  tho  South? 
Men  of  the  South  once  hated  it,  but  now 
They  all  have  learned  t'  embrace  it  lovingly. 

Ariel.  Yes,  Zophiel,  to  those  slav'ry-hating  men 
Its  horrors  and  its  profits  all  belonged; 
But  the  great  guilt  of  gross  mismanagement 
Eests  on  the  South  with  more  than  mountain  weight. 


222  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  South  loathed  slavery  till  the  mighty  North 

Would  wriggle  out  of  all  the  covenants 

Made  with  slave-holders  in  more  honest  times, 

And  called  their  benefactors  criminals. 

Then  hatred  seemed  to  drive  out  common  sense  j 

Then  Southern  men  defended  slavery. 

They  said  it  was  a  blessing  sent  from  God, 

A  blessing  to  the  master  and  the  slave: 

Each  son  of  Japhet  owed  it  to  the  Lord 

To  capture  and  enslave  some  child  of  Ham, 

To  the  great  glory  of  the  Lord  most  high. 

This  theory  was  never  practiced  there, 

But  something  worse  grew  out  of  hellish  hate 

Between  the  sections  of  a  Christian  land. 

To  charge  God  with  the  guilt  of  slavery 

Wa8  most  insulting  to  the  Holy  One, 

But  the  domestic  slave  trade  was  far  worse. 

"When  Southern  men  sold  slaves  to  Southern  men, 

The  slave  might  often  choose  his  own  new  home, 

And  keep  his  loved  ones  in  his  neighborhood; 

But  this  depended  on  a  kindly  heart : 

Law  must  not  meddle  with  a  master's  rights: 

So  said  defiant  Southern  gentlemen. 

They  left  their  slaves  without  a  word  of  law 

To  shield  them  from  the  Northern  rich  man's  greed. 

But  when  the  sheriff  sold  for  Northern  debts, 

The  highest  bidder  took  the  human  soul, 

And  sundered  all  the  slave's  most  tender  ties. 

No  matter  if  the  loving  master  plead, 

Or  wept,  or  cursed  to  see  his  playmate  sold : 

Away  from  parents,  children,  wife,  and  homo, 

The  property  must  bring  its  highest  price. 

In  spite  of  cries  and  tears  from  anguished  hearts 

The  slave  was  exiled  far  from  all  he  loved. 

The  suff ' rers  by  this  lack  of  kindly  law 

Were  not  barbarians  brought  from  Africa, 

Nor  hardened  criminals,  well  steeped  in  crime, 

But  colored  Christians  born  and  taught  of  God. 

The  possibility  of  such  hard  fate 

Robbed  the  gay  slave  of  much  hilarious  glee. 

"  Old  master's"  home  was  his  blest  paradise; 


RICH  MEN  LEGGING  BAIL.  223 

To  leave  it,  banishment  from  Eden's  joys. 
Thousands  for  sale  begged  men  to  purchase  them, 
To  keep  them  near  the  families  they  loved. 
And  when  they  failed  to  find  a  purchaser, 
Lest  they  should  flee  to  swamps,  or  Canada, 
Were  thrust  into  damp  jails  and  bound  in  iron 
To  go  in  agony  they  knew  not  where. 

Abdiel.  These  helpless  suff' rcrs  from  infernal  hate 
Between  the  ruling  sections  of  the  States 
Did  God  forget  and  fail  t'  avenge  their  wrongs? 

Ariel.  I  need  not  talk  of  retribution  now ; 
But  slaves  are  free,  and  more  than  all  the  wealth 
They  ever  earned  has  been  destroyed  by  war. 
Thousands  of  wealthy,  honored  Southern  men 
Have  begged  for  bail  to  stay  in  their  own  homes, 
When  low-bred  despots,  proud  of  hate-born  rule, 
Arrested  them  with  spiteful  tyranny. 
And  tens  of  thousands,  fearful  of  arrest, 
Have  dodged  the  hated  "homo  guards"  day  and  night, 
Or  slept  in  prisons,  fed  on  prison  fare. 
Hundreds  of  thousands,  men  of  ev'ry  rank, 
Left  happy  homes  to  sicken  in  the  camps; 
Or  way-worn  trudged  through  dank,  malarious  swamps; 
Or  pined  in  prison  far  from  friends  and  home; 
Or  died  by  thousands  battling  with  fierce  foes. 

Abdiel.  Was  this  t'  avenge  the  wrongs  of  su^T'ring 

slaves 
On  those  who  might  have  shielded  them  from  harm  ? 

'Ariel.  I  did  not  say  so,  but  the  white  man's  lot 
Was  not  unlike  what  the  sold  slave's  had  been. 
Such  seeming  retribution  threatened  all 
Whose  hate  of  Yankee  meddling  left  their  slaves 
So  unprotected  by  the  civil  law. 
But  there  were  some  conspicuously  known 
Who  suffered  much  from  arbitrary  pow'r. 
Those  times  saw  Henry  Clay's  beloved  son 
Dragged  from  his  happy  homo  and  family 


224  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

To  the  chief  city  of  his  native  State, 

And  exiled  in  the  care  of  hireling  guards, 

As  many  decent  negroes  oft  had  been ; 

Saw  her  chief-justice  flee  to  Canada, 

As  pious,  sober  slaves  with  haste  had  fled; 

And  the  chief  pastor  of  the  proudest  sect 

Hasten  away  to  dwell  in  Toronto; 

Her  loved  ex-Governor,  a  Union  man, 

Dragged  from  his  bed  at  night  by  armed  men, 

And  hurried  off  to  damp  Fort  La  Fayettc, 

Deprived  of  all  the  decencies  of  life, 

Thence  carried  to  Fort  Warren  to  reflect 

On  men  who  won  the  liberty  he  lost 

For  failing  to  appreciate  and  laugh 

At  obscene  jokes  from  one  whose  will  was  fate. 

So  a  slave  trader  might  have  shown  dislike 

Toward  one  too  pure  to  relish  his  coarse  wit. 

Another  Governor,  who  fought  three  years, 

Commanding  Union  troops  in  active  war, 

Was  exiled  from  his  State  into  a  wild, 

And  left  to  wander  without  purse  or  sword, 

As  destitute  as  any  negro  slave, 

Fleeing  from  traders  who  bought  human  souls. 

His  grave  offense  was  voting  for  his  choice 

Among  the  men  who  would  be  President. 

I  might  proceed  to  tell  of  thousands  more 

Whose  sufferings  were  such  as  negroes  bore 

As  the  result  of  lack  of  human  law 

To  save  them  from  unnecessary  woes, 

But  I  forbear  to  state  more  instances. 

Undignified  contentions  now  prevail 

Between  the  Congress  and  the  President. 

While  they  contend  about  prerogatives 

And  how  the  conquered  States  shall  be  controlled, 

The  Southland  suffers  from  the  worst  misrulo 

Bad  negroes  and  worse  white  men  can  inflict. 

Plantation  government,  by  blacks  or  whites, 

Was  not  considered  half  so  villainous. 

Abdiel.  Can  there  be  retribution  in  the  fact 
That  white  men  must  endure  misirovernment? 


IRON  ON  HIS  LIMBS  AND  IN  HIS  SOUL.  225 

Ariel.  I  did  not  say  so.     You  may  judge  of  that. 
I  said  that  he  who  ruled  by  their  free  choice 
The  noblest  sons  and  daughters  of  their  race 
Is  a  vicarious  suff 'rer  for  his  class 
And  the  proud  people  he  was  called  to  rule; 
That  this  great  man  has  borne  indignities 
And  sufferings  beyond  comparison 
With  any  borne  by  other  Christian  men. 
A  price  was  set  upon  his  honored  head ; 
He  was  accused  of  most  atrocious  crimes, 
Was  hounded  through  the  land  that  honored  him. 
Mad  millions  loudly  clamored  for  his  blood, 
And  sung  of  hanging  him  upon  a  tree. 
Chased  through  the  forest  paths  of  three  great  States, 
Th'  illustrious  fugitive  at  dawn  of  day 
Was  torn  from  much  loved  family  and  friends, 
And  rudely  hurried  to  the  Chesapeake. 
Fortress  Monroe  became  his  prison  house, 
Made  strong  by  his  own  care  in  happier  days. 
There  the  meek  invalid  was  doomed  to  wear 
The  iron  fetters  of  despotic  rule. 
When  the  sick  suff'rer  saw  the  manacles 
And  the  rough  men  to  fetter  his  weak  limbs, 
Astonishment  almost  suspended  thought. 
Soon  indignation  gave  him  such  great  strength 
That  men  and  shackles  were  thrown  off  witli  ease, 
And  manhood's  majesty  defiant  stood 
Proof  against  degradation  by  his  foes. 
Exhaustion  followed  effort.     There  he  lay, 
The  helpless  victim  of  infernal  hate, 
With  iron  on  his  limbs  and  in  his  soul. 
The  tread  of  sentinels  drove  sleep  away: 
No  quiet  moment  visited  his  cell, 
No  secret  corner  hid  from  watchful  eyes, 
By  day  or  night  this  modest  gentleman. 
Brave  sentinels  abhorred  the  cruel  task 
That  made  them  seem  like  Gorgons  or  foul  fiends, 
With  horrid  looks  converting  men  to  stone. 
The  army  surgeons  in  the  name  of  God, 
Humanity,  and  their  great  science  plead 
For  one  whoso  virtues  had  made  them  his  friends 

15 


226  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Two  years'  subjection  to  tyrannic  whims 
Have  failed  to  crush  the  patient  sufferer. 
He  comes  to-day  demanding  liberty 
Or  a  fair  trial  through  the  courts  of  law. 
They  hold  him  still  for  trial.     He  gives  bail. 
He  never  will  be  tried.     He's  innocent. 
No  law  condemns  the  victim  of  hell's  hate, 
So  his  worst  enemies  must  now  admit. 

Abdid.  If  God  avenged  the  wrongs  of  negro  slaves 
Upon  the  honored  men  of  Southern  States, 
Did  that  excuse  or  justify  the  wrongs 
Inflicted  upon  Davis  and  his  friends, 
And  on  the  humbler  millions  of  the  South? 

Ariel.  No,  no  !     Stern  retribution  follows  fast 
In  footsteps  of  wrong-doers  of  all  grades: 
Some  in  this  life,  more  in  the  life  to  come. 

Scene :  Senate  Chamber,  Washington,  D.  C.,  May  %6, 1868.    SATAN, 
MARS,  MAMMON,  BELUS,  BELIAL. 

Satan.  Comrades,  the  rulers  of  this  continent 
Have  fallen  upon  most  unhappy  times. 
Davis  was  hunted,  captured,  bound  in  iron, 
Accused  of  crimes,  confined  two  years,  gave  bail, 
And  then  demanding  trial  was  denied. 
In  Lincoln's  hour  of  triumph  he  was  shot, 
Mourned  by  the  men  who  were  his  enemies. 
The  Mexicans  dethroned  their  emperor, 
And  doomed  him  to  the  penalty  of  death. 
'Tis  said  that  Johnson,  who  is  now  impeached, 
Will  be  expelled  from  his  high  place  to-day 
By  the  rash  men  who  rule  to  ruin  here. 

Belial.  They've  met  their  match  in  this  their  President. 
I've  watched  my  big-brained  crony  from  his  youth. 
He  seldom  fails  in  what  he  undertakes. 

Belus.  What  have  these  men  against  their  President? 

Mars.  He  was  as  rough  and  ready  as  themselves, 
Able  to  comprehend  their  vicious  schemes 
And  counteract  the  shrewdest  of  their  plans. 


ALASKA  PURCHASED.  227 

At  duty's  call  he  vetoed  their  bad  acts, 
And  turned  out  Stanton  from  his  cabinet. 
He  wished  to  rule  the  country  four  years  more 
And  end  unconstitutional  misrule. 

Mammon.  He  need  not  lose  his  office  for  a  day : 
If  they  hate  Johnson,  they  love  money  more. 

Satan.  Halt,  Mammon,  and  be  careful  how  you  talk ! 
Most  Senators  may  be  quite  sinful  men 
And  like  myself  may  glory  in  their  deeds, 
But  hint  not  that  such  great  men  can  be  bought. 

Mammon.  I  dare  not  speak  against  your  chosen  friends, 
But  may  assert  that  they  have  all  grown  rich. 
The  silly  honesty  of  early  times 
Has  long  been  numbered  with  the  things  that  were. 

Satan.  Mammon,  imprudence  is  your  fault  of  late : 
You  tell  our  party  secrets  out  of  school. 
While  we  await  the  Senate's  action  here, 
Let  us  rehearse  the  hist'ry  of  these  times. 
The  buying  of  Alaska  was  an  act 
To  be  remembered  to  the  end  of  time. 
But  I  shall  watch  for  opportunities 
For  war  between  Great  Britain  and  the  States 
About  their  frozen  boundaries  and  trade. 

Mammon.  The  grand  old  party  we  have  served  so  well 
Has  proof  of  our  devotion  to  its  cause. 
With  Douglass  or  with  Bell  for  President, 
There  could  have  been  no  war  between  the  States. 
We  beat  them  by  divisions  in  the  ranks 
Of  the  majorities  opposed  to  us. 
When  we  had  beaten  them,  some  kindly  words 
Would  have  hushed  all  the  storms  of  discontent. 
We  spoke  them  not,  but  let  the  storm  rage  on. 
To  serve  our  faction  and  preserve  its  life 
Has  cost  ten  thousand  millions  in  hard  cash 
And  sent  a  million  to  untimely  graves. 
Was  such  a  party  cheap  at  such  a  price? 


228  THE  AMERICAS  EPIC. 

Satan.  To  us  it  was.     We  need  its  services 
To  curse  the  country  to  the  end  of  time. 
If  dying  it  should  cease  to  work  our  will, 
Another  like  it  never  could  arise 
To  secrete  so  much  venom  in  its  hate. 

Mars.  Its  miscreated,  monstrous  government 
Of  subjugated  people  in  the  South 
By  ten  black  Legislatures  of  ten  States. 
With  lighter-colored  Governors  to  match, 
Five  military  rulers  with  their  troops, 
Over  five  districts  under  epaulettes, 
Fifteen  coarse  Congressmen  to  crown  the  whole. 
Is  complicated,  military,  mixed, 
Kaleidoscopic  and  yet  quite  unique. 
Solon,  Lycurgus,  Numa,  Draco,  Laud 
Could  never  have  imagined  such  a  scheme. 
Stanton  and  Satan  must  have  hatched  it  out. 
Own  up  now,  Satan,  tell  the  truth  for  once. 

Satan.  What  if  we  did?    Who  had  a  better  right? 
See!  see  !  the  crowd!    The  Senate  now  adjourns. 
Johnson's  acquitted.     Yes,  he  conies  this  way, 
With  Evarts,  Seward,  Stanberry,  and  Chase. 
See  yonder  Butler,  Stephens,  Chandler,  Wade, 
Sumner,  and  Morrill,  Sherman,  Morton,  Hoar. 

Scene :  Boston,  Mass.,  November  12,  1872.    GABRIEL,  ZEPIION,  AB- 

DIEL. 

Zephon.  What  means  this  burning  mass  of  merchan 
dise, 

This  crumbling  granite  and  this  melting  iron? 
Here  blazes  eighty  millions  of  heaped  wealth 
On  threescore  acres  of  rich  Boston's  ground! 
A  year  ago  Chicago  saw  fierce  flames 
Consume  two  hundred  millions  at  one  time, 
Spread  over  more  than  three  square  miles  of  land. 
The  great  North-west  has  been  so  scorched  by  flames 
That  dwellings,  factories,  stores,  merchandise, 
Green,  growing  crops,  and  rich,  ripe,  luscious  fruits, 
And  even  vegetables  under  ground 
Have  been  devoured  by  the  hungry  heat. 


CORRUPTION  OF  STATESMEN.  229 

I've  seen  it  all,  and  asked  myself  the  while 

Whether  their  boisterous  glee  and  joyful  shouts 

O'er  flames  that  blazed  upon  Atlanta's  hills, 

Or  lit  the  skies  o'er  Georgia's  villages, 

Or  gave  unfading  glory  to  the  land 

Where  flows  the  Shenandoah's  sparkling  stream, 

Has  aught  to  do  with  these  calamities. 

Gabriel.  "Tis  not  for  us  to  judge  the  sons  of  men, 
Or  pour  out  retribution  on  their  heads. 
I  saw  th'  unseemly  mirth  of  which  you  speak. 
These  blazes  bring  to  mem'ry  their  offense, 
But  kindle  not  in  them  a  thought  of  guilt. 
'Tis  ours  to  aid  all  peoples  in  distress. 
These  troubled  ones  demand  our  hearty  help. 

ZopJiiel.  Such  losses  industry  will  soon  retrieve, 
And  enterprise  convert  them  into  gains. 
But  only  grace  can  build  good  character 
Amid  the  ruins  by  sin's  cyclone  made. 
If  States  may  swindle  States  and  compacts  break, 
To  profit  by  collective  villainy, 
Shrewd  citizens  will  rulers  imitate, 
For  fraudful  States  raise  fraudful  citizens, 
Till  rank  corruption  fills  the  land  with  fraud. 
Wat'ring  lean  cattle  just  before  they're  weighed 
Suggested  wat'ring  railroad  stocks  to  sell, 
And  thus  get  two  for  one  by  a  sly  trick. 
"  Black  Friday  "  gave  slick  scoundrelism  wealth, 
But  covered  the  great  business  world  with  gloom. 
Commercial  ruin  came  from  cornering  gold, 
But  gave  twelve  millions  to  two  swindling  men. 
Tweed  and  his  comrades  steal  from  rich  New  York 
Uncounted  millions,  and  insulting  ask: 
"  What  will  you  do  about  this  trifling  thing?" 

Abdiel.  But  worse  than  this,  "  The  Credit  Mobilier" 
Taints  the  great  Congressmen  with  basest  fraud. 
From  sea  to  sea  the  railroad  has  been  laid 
On  the  crushed  ruins  of  their  characters, 
And  yet  with  brazen  fronts  they  claim  respect 
Without  a  blush  for  their  ill-gotten  gains. 


230  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

So  universal  is  corruption  now 

That  thieves  and  swindlers  most  adroitly  cling 

To  all  departments  of  the  government. 

No  methodistic  honesty  can  shield 

Nor  West  Point  lofty  honor  well  protect 

The  President  himself  from  the  shrewd  thieves. 

They  wind  themselves  into  his  confidence, 

And  cast  the  shadows  of  their  crimes  on  him. 

Gabriel.  'Tis  sad  to  see  so  much  dishonesty, 
Such  universal  grabbing  after  gold ; 
But  I  predicted  this  great  greed  for  gain 
When  hatred  seized  the  reins  of  government 
And,  spurning  constitutional  restraints, 
Drove  madly  over  all  the  rights  of  States. 

Zephon.  This  wondrous  country  still  grows  rapidly 
In  spite  of  sins  and  gross  mismanagement. 
The  broad  Pacific  ocean  from  afar 
Sends  geetings  to  th'  Atlantic  hour  by  hour, 
And  both  stretch  out  strong  arms  of  shining  steel 
To  grasp  hands  over  this  broad  continent. 
Thirty-eight  millions  in  their  peaceful  homes, 
Under  one  flag  in  thirty-seven  States 
May  bid  defiance  to  their  ev'ry  foe. 
The  States  are  all  once  more  in  Congress  halls, 
With  Senators  and  Representatives. 
The  ruling  faction,  hoping  to  secure 
By  negro  votes  a  longer  lease  of  power, 
Has  made  the  blacks  voters  and  citizens. 
This  gives  more  Congressmen  to  Southern  States 
Than  they  have  ever  had  before  the  war. 
These  will  be  white  men  chosen  by  white  men, 
Pledged  to  support  a  white  man's  government 
Over  the  negroes  and  their  Northern  friends. 
What  will  the  ghost  of  Sumner  say  to  this? 
And  how  will  his  live  friends  ward  off  the  force 
Of  the  reaction  of  their  boomerang? 


BOOK  ELEVENTH. 


Scene:  Centennial  Building,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  10,  1S7G.  MI 
CHAEL,  GABRIEL,  UZZIEL,  ITHURIEL,  RAPHAEL,  ABDIEL,  Zo- 
PHIEL,  ARIEL,  ZADKIEL,  ISRAFIEL,  AZARIAS. 

Michael.  Comrades,  with  joy  I  meet  you  here  to-day 
Amid  these  works  of  nature  and  of  art, 
Gathered  together  out  of  many  lands. 
These  signs  of  peace  and  progress  call  for  thanks 
To  the  great  Giver  of  all  perfect  gifts. 

All.  "  We  give  thec  joyful  thanks,  most  gracious  Lord, 
For  all  that  thou  has  done  for  Adam's  race 
And  for  thy  blessings  lavished  on  this  land  !  " 

Gabriel.  The  storms  of  war  were  low' ring  darkly  round 
When  we  beheld  this  youthful  nation's  birth. 
We've  watched  it  through  a  hundred  years  of  growth, 
And  now  see  giant  strength  and  wisdom  joined 
With  beauty's  blooming,  glowing  loveliness. 
This  exhibition  well  rewards  our  care. 
While  we  await  the  coming  multitude, 
Please  tell  of  great  events  of  recent  date. 

Uzziel.  England  has  paid  for  damages  at  sea 
To  the  rich  commerce  of  America 
By  war-ships  that  went  out  from  British  ports, 
Of  dollars  fifteen  millions  and  a  half! 
What  would  King  George  the  Third  have  said  to  that? 
England  concedes  to  the  United  States 
The  channel  boundary  which  they  had  claimed 
Near  to  Vancouver's  Isle  and  Fuca's  Straits. 
Grant  wanted  San  Domingo's  sunny  isle, 
But  Sumner  was  the  marplot  of  his  plan. 

Israfiel.  Proud  magnates  of  this  land  by  death  laid  low 
Await  the  resurrection  trumpet's  sound. 

(231) 


232  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Stevens  and  Stanton,  Scward,  Sumner,  Chase, 

Wilson  and  Greeley,  Thomas,  Can  by,  Meade, 

Bravo  Farragut,  and  matchless  Robert  Lee — 

All  silently  sleep  now  in  quiet  graves, 

Unnoticed  by  the  busy,  bustling  world. 

Still  this  great  country  lives  and  flourishes, 

The  noblest  nation  in  the  universe. 

Hark !     Martial  music  floats  upon  the  air ! 

Four  thousand  veterans  escort  their  chief 

And  make  the  welkin  ring  with  their  huzzas. 

Behold  the  living  magnates  of  to-day  ! 

They  come  to  act  their  parts  in  this  grand  scene ! 

See  the  embassadors  of  foreign  lands, 

The  judges  of  earth's  highest  civil  court, 

The  honored  Governors  of  sovereign  States, 

Great  Senators  and  Representatives, 

Naval  and  military  officers 

Of  highest  rank  and  most  successful  deeds, 

Distinguished  visitors  and  citizens, 

Thousands  of  women  in  their  loveliness, 

And  gleeful  childhood's  artless  innocence. 

Who  enter?     'Tis  the  modest  President. 

He  takes  his  seat,  and  at  his  side  is  seeii 

The  Emperor  and  Empress  of  Brazil. 

Music  rings  out!     Th'  enchanting  notes  arc  hushed. 

Prayer  lifts  its  voice — the  suppliant  prayers  of  all 

Ascend  to  heav'n  from  Matthew  Simpson's  lips. 

....  Hear  Whittier's  hymn  !     It  sounds  as  if  inspired. 

To  Hawley  Welsh  presents;  and  he  to  Grant 

The  grounds  and  buildings  and  their  grand  array. 

Grant  kindly  welcomes  all,  and  then  declares 

The  exhibition  open  to  the  world. 

Then  with  Brazil's  great  emperor  to  help, 

Starts  the  grand  engine  that  with  giant  force 

Propels  broad  acres  of  machinery. 

Scene:  PiUsburg,  Pa.,  July,  1877.     CHEMOSH,  SATAN,   MOLOCH, 
BAAL,  MAES,  MAMMON,  BELIAL,  BELUS. 

Satan.  Comrades,  what  think  you  of  those  hellish 

flames 
That  on  red  wings  soar  upward  toward  the  hcav'ns? 


WAR  TAUGHT  INCENDIARIES.  '  233 

Baal.  Their  tow'ring  grandeur  fills  me  with  delight ! 
Moloch.  They  promise  flowing  streams  of  human  blood  ! 

Belus.  I  am  reminded  of  old  Babylon, 
Tyre,  Nineveh,  Ecbatana,  and  Troy, 
Long  buried  'neath  the  ashes  of  their  homes ! 

Belial.  I  think  of  present  pleasure  in  rough  sport! 

Mars.  I  ask  for  valiant  legions  to  shoot  down 
The  wretches  who  disturb  the  public  peace! 

Mammon.  I  mourn  such  waste  of  so  much  precious 
wealth ! 

Satan.  Here  is  the  "aristocracy  of  wealth," 
And  the  "Democracy  of  numbers  "  too, 
That  Alexander  Hamilton  desired. 
The  aristocracy  of  wealth  conspired 
To  cut  down  labor's  earnings  ten  per  cent., 
Which  meant  less  food,  less  clothing,  and  less  firo 
In  the  rough  huts  of  squalid  poverty, 
That  millionaires  might  faster  heap  their  hoards. 
The  maddened  toilers  in  the  Southland,  taught 
By  honored  officers  to  light  the  torch, 
Apply  it  now  to  Northern  property. 
See  in  those  flames  the  red,  rich,  ripening  fruits 
Of  Sherman's  tactics,  Hamilton's  finance. 
But  this  destruction  is  the  poor  man's  loss; 
The  rich  will  make  him  pay  the  damages 
In  taxes,  lower  wages,  higher  rents, 
More  costly  clothing,  fire,  food,  furniture. 
Less  wealth  must  mean  less  comfort  for  the  poor. 
The  rich  can  always  buy  what  they  desire. 

Chemosh.  These  railroad  riots  and  destructive  fires 
Spend  all  their  fury  on  the  prosp'rous  North ; 
The  long  lines  stretching  southward  are  secure. 

Baal.  War  taught  the  Northern  workmen  how  to  burn 
The  property  of  men  they  do  not  love. 
That  lesson  Southern  men  are  slow  to  learn; 
Even  the  negroes,  though  exhorted  long 
To  burn  up  Southern  property,  refuse. 


234  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Mammon,  you  study  questions  of  finance, 
Please  tell  us  whether  capital's  increase 
Is  detrimental  to  the  lab'ring  poor? 
Whether  the  poor  have  any  thing  to  gain 
By  the  destruction  of  a  rich  man's  wealth  ? 

Mammon.  No;  wealth's  increase  is  gainful  to  all  men, 
And  wealth's  destruction  subjects  all  to  loss. 
Some  get  an  unfair  portion  of  the  gain, 
And  others  share  too  largely  in  the  loss. 
The  strife  between  labor  and  capital 
I.s  ruinous  to  both,  and  ought  to  cease. 
If  either  party  grows  dissatisfied, 
Let  operatives  and  machines  work  on 
At  such  fair  rates  as  a  just  court  may  fix. 
Thus,  without  quarrels  or  the  loss  of  time, 
Production  still  proceeds  to  increase  wealth. 
Work  the  machines  all  day  and  all  night  long — 
Three  sets  of  operatives,  each  eight  hours. 
Overproduction  never  need  be  feared, 
With  free  trade  in  the  markets  of  the  world. 
If  public  faith  is  pledged  to  certain  men 
For  their  protection  against  foreigners, 
Take  off  the  tariff,  lay  a  bounty  on 
T'  indemnify  confiding  citizens. 
Add  the  just  bounty  to  the  general  tax, 
Let  the  whole  *Union  and  each  separate  State 
Pay  their  whole  tax  into  one  treasury, 
From  which  the  States  or  counties  would  draw  out 
An  equal  sum  for  ev'ry  citizen. 
The  only  other  tax  to  be  assessed 
Would  bo  by  cities  for  their  purposes. 
To  raise  the  money  for  that  gen'ral  tax, 
Double  the  duty  and  the  excise  on 
Tobacco  and  intoxicating  drinks. 
From  ev'ry  dollar  of  the  capital 
Of  money-making  trusts  and  syndicates, 
And  other  corporations  of  the  kind, 
Collect  three  mills  in  each  and  every  year. 
Raise  the  deficiency  from  capital 
Over  one  thousand  dollars  in  amount. 


SAVE  THE  MILLIONS  FROM  MILLIONAIRES.        235 
Ghemosh.  But  what  of  State  rights  in  a  plan  like  this? 

Mammon.  The  right  of  all  to  tax  the  capital 
That  hides  itself  from  States  in  which  'twas  earned 
In  the  great  cities  where  the  wealthy  live. 
Amend  the  Constitution  to  that  end. 

Mars.  Tell  us  what  else  the  nation  yet  can  do 
To  save  its  millions  from  its  millionaires, 
And  thus  avert  the  ruin  that  impends? 

Mammon.  With  no  taxation  on  the  lab'ring  poor 
By  tariff,  excise,  or  to  license  trade. 
Tax  heavily  the  filth,  the  wastefulness — 
Disease  and  crime  in  alcoholic  drinks, 
Till  prohibition  drives  them  out  of  use. 
Wash  with  soft  soap  at  least  three  times  a  day 
The  mouths  of  minors  who  defile  themselves 
With  snuff,  tobacco,  or  with  nicotine 
In  any  of  its  varied,  filthy  forms. 
Thus  to  the  poor  would  soon  be  saved  with  ease 
Two  hundred  millions  paid  in  tariffs  now; 
Eight  hundred  paid  in  bounties  to  the  rich, 
Because  of  tariffs  on  the  things  they  make; 
Eight  hundred  more  from  alcoholic  drinks, 
And  full  two  hundred  from  tobacco  saved. 
Two  billions  yearly  thus  saved  to  the  poor, 
And  a  round  billion  taxed  upon  the  rich, 
Would  make  the  poor  grow  richer  ev'ry  year 
Without  depriving  wealth  of  luxuries 
Or  bringing  one  rich  man  to  poverty. 
To  help  the  poor  rise  up  in  affluence, 
Compel  all  children  to  attend  the  schools 
From  fifth  or  sixth  up  to  their  fourteenth  year; 
From  fourteen  to  eighteen,  to  learn  some  trade, 
Profession,  calling,  business,  or  pursuit. 
Make  vagabonds,  tramps,  vagrants,  swindlers  work ; 
Convicted  criminals  keep  well  confined, 
And  give  them  food  and  clothes  and  constant  toil. 

Belial.  Ho,  Mammon  !  you  had  better  now  turn  saint. 
Add  exhortation,  preaching,  prayers,  and  smiles, 


236  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  music  to  relieve  their  leisure  hours. 

Your  money-mong'ring  statesmanship  would  leave 

No  worthless  character  in  all  the  land, 

Nor  one  disciple  of  destruction's  school. 

If  Satan  does  not  keep  close  watch  on  you, 

You'll  turn  the  head  of  every  devil  hero, 

And  then  turn  pastor  of  a  thrifty  Church 

(An  independent,  liberal  Church,  of  course) 

Among  the  wealthy  people  of  New  York, 

Chicago,  Boston,  Brooklyn,  or  Detroit. 

But  go  on  with  your  lecture  on  finance 

Till  Satan  comes  with  more  important  work. 

You  could  give  lessons  even  to  Jay  Gould. 

Azazel.  Why  not  divide  all  wealth  in  equal  parts 
Among  the  people  of  a  prosp'rous  land? 

Mammon.  It  would  not  stay  divided  for  an  hour: 
The  thrifty  men  could  soon  seize  sev'ral  shares, 
The  spendthrift  hasten  to  be  poor  again. 
'Twould  clog  the  wheels  of  progress  and  destroy 
The  fruits  of  many  years  of  industry. 

Belus.  But  as  the  rich  grow  richer,  and  the  poor 
Still  more  dependent  on  machinery, 
Will  not  the  fate  of  Babylon  and  Eome 
Descend  upon  a  land  of  helpless  slaves, 
Dependent  on  a  few  with  purse  and  sword  ? 

Serapis.  These  people  boast  of  their  intelligence  : 
So  did  old  Egypt  in  her  days  of  pow'r, 
But  basest  of  the  nations  she  became. 

Mars.  They  glory  greatly  in  self-government; 
But  so  did  Athens,  Sparta,  Thebes,  and  Eome. 
Wealth  in  few  hands  led  to  their  overthrow ; 
It  purchased  slaves  and  fawning  sycophants, 
But  patriotic  valor  to  defend 
The  failing  fortunes  of  a  sinking  State 
Was  something  wealthy  rulers  could  not  buy. 

Mammon.  This  great  republic  had  its  destiny 
In  its  strong  hands  for  its  own  weal  or  woe. 


THE  PRESIDENCY  STOLEN.  237 

It  placed  the  yoke  of  hatred  on  its  neck, 

A  nd  used  its  strength  to  drag  the  car  of  war 

Through  gory  fields  to  fame's  enchanted  grounds. 

Peace  came,  and  my  shrewd  minions  seized  the  reins, 

Gilded  the  yoke,  and  drove  the  nation  on 

To  serve  an  aristocracy  of  wealth. 

Of  all  the  millions  spent  in  hatred's  war 

One-half  went  to  the  purses  of  my  friends. 

One  dollar  in  the  public  treasury, 

Drawn  by  the  tariff  from  the  toiling  poor, 

Puts  four  into  the  pockets  of  the  rich 

In  higher  prices  for  protected  goods. 

'Tis  said  they  now  make  merchandise  of  votes; 

That  one  in  four  of  voters  is  for  sale, 

That  Legislatures  sell  themselves  for  gold, 

And  senatorial  honors  can  be  bought. 

'Tis  said  the  presidency,  if  not  sold, 

Was  hocus-pocused  from  th'  elected  man, 

To  keep  the  grand  old  party  still  in  place 

The  nation's  treasures  to  manipulate, 

Strike  freedom  down  and  fan  the  fires  of  hate. 

But  let  the  truth  be  told.     The  non-elect 

To  whom  the  highest  office  in  the  world 

Was  given  by  the  nation's  great  mishap 

Was  the  best  man,  or  rather  the  least  bad, 

Of  the  bad  money  party's  chosen  chiefs. 

'Tis  a  great  pity  that  a  man  no  worse 

Should  have  to  bear  his  party's  infamy. 

Satan.  Ho,  Mammon !     You've  grown  wondrous  wise 

of  late. 

You're  quite  a  statesman  and  philanthropist. 
Why  not  to  free  trade  and  free  public  schools 
Add  free  libraries,  lectures,  lyceums, 
Free  fruit  on  all  the  road-ways  of  the  world, 
And  dwellings  free  from  sale  for  tax  or  debt? 
Have  done  with  your  nonsensical  debates  ! 
'Twas  other  business  brought  us  here  to-day. 
What  might  be  and  what  will  be  differ  much. 
With  flames  like  these  we'll  fill  this  boasting  land. 
Society's  great  social  pyramid 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Grows  broader  at  the  bottom  day  by  day, 

And  at  the  top  richer  and  heavier. 

By  combinations,  trusts,  and  syndicates, 

And  higher  tariffs  to  enrich  the  rich, 

We'll  heap  up  gilded  greatness  till  the  poor, 

Crushed  and  despairing,  overturn  it  all, 

As  did  the  French  a  century  ago. 

See  you  that  Scotchman?     Once  he  was  quite  poor; 

But  tariffs  piled  up  riches  at  his  feet 

Until  he  buys  an  old,  historic  home, 

In  honest  times  giv'n  by  a  grateful  State 

To  show  her  love  for  a  great  general. 

Pile  on  the  tariff,  let  the  trusts  combine, 

And  such  a  princely  fortune  will  be  his 

That  he'll  hobnob  with  princes  in  their  realms, 

And  have  proud  statesmen  share  his  toadying. 

Let  us  away.     Chicago  claims  our  care. 

Scene :  Washington,  D.  C.,  December  5,  1S79.    ITIIURIHL,  ABDIEL, 
ZADKIEL.     On  Currency. 

Ithuriel.  'Tis  said  that  silver  was  demonetized 
In  such  a  quiet,  underhanded  way 
That  Senators  and  Representatives 
Could  not  learn  when  or  why  or  how  'twas  done, 
But  the  effect  was  soon  well  understood. 
Less  currency  took  money  from  the  poor 
And  gave  it  to  their  wealthy  creditors, 
While  trade  constricted,  wilted,  withered,  shrunk. 
But  when  the  people  learned  what  had  been  done, 
They  forced  the  emissaries  of  the  rich 
To  issue  silver  currency  again 
In  coins  such  as  their  honest  fathers  used. 

AbdieL  When  war  was  raging,  paper  currency 
Was  often  borrowed  by  the  government, 
To  be  repaid  in  paper  promises: 
But  when  war  ceased  the  shrewd  old  bond-holders 
Demanded  gold  for  paper  promises  ; 
And  politicians  gave  them  all  they  asked, 
Thus  doubling  all  that  debtors  had  to  pay 
And  doubling  the  receipts  of  creditors. 


A  STABLE  CURRENCY.  239 

Zadkiel.  Millions  of  money  known  as  trade  dollars, 
Though  they  were  largely  over  "standard  weight," 
Of  more  intrinsic  worth  than  "  standard  coin," 
Were  in  the  people's  hands,  and  when  suppressed 
Caused  them  the  loss  of  twenty  cents  on  each: 
Thus  have  base  sharpers  filched  from  multitudes. 

Ithuriel.  So  the  great  banking  law  gave  to  a  few 
Int'rest  on  bonds,  on  notes,  deposits,  drafts; 
And  left  the  people  subject  to  the  whims 
Of  six  and  thirty  thousand  selfish  banks, 
To  lend  them  much  or  little,  as  they  please, 
T'  expand  or  contract  currency  at  will, 
With  naught  to  regulate  their  waywardness. 
In  speculative  times  they've  funds  to  lend, 
Expanding  the  expansion  more  and  more  ; 
But  when  a  crisis  comes,  fis  come  it  must, 
They  make  the  pressure  more  and  more  severe; 
Sad  borrowers,  begging  from  door  to  door, 
Find  no  relief  from  hopeless  bankruptcy. 
Far  better  would  it  be  to  separate 
All  banks  and  banking  from  the  government. 
They  talk  of  an  elastic  currency — 
'Tis  flexible  to  make  the  bankers  rich 
At  the  expense  of  losing  multitudes — 
A  currency  to  stretch  in  prosp'rous  times, 
And  to  contract  when  scarcity  prevails. 

Abdiel.  A  stable  currency  is  what  men  need, 
Subject  to  no  contraction  nor  control; 
Enlarging  as  the  people  multiply, 
And  mines  give  up  their  silver  and  their  gold. 
This  can  be  gained  by  banishing  bank-notes, 
And  ev'ry  form  of  currency  but  one, 
That  issued  by  the  public  treasury; 
In  notes  of  ev'ry  various  size  required, 
From  hundred  thousand  dollars  to  half-dimes; 
But  never  to  exceed  in  its  amount 
Four  times  the  money  in  the  public  vaults, 
Nor  fifty  dollars  for  each  citizen. 
Backed  by  the  specie  and  the  government, 


240  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

These  notes  would  pass  most  current  round  the  world. 

Were  any  lost,  'twould  be  the  nation's  gain, 

Nor  would  the  wear  of  coin  cause  any  loss. 

To  circulate  this  people's  currency 

Use  it  to  pay  expenses,  purchase  bonds, 

And  satisfy  all  public  creditors, 

Replenishing  the  treasury  with  coin. 

Scene:   Elberon,  Coast  of  New  Jersey,  September  19,   1SS1.    RA 
PHAEL,  ISRAFIEL,  ZADKIEL,  ZOPHIEL,  ZEPIION,  AZARIAS. 

Azarias.  The  patient  suff ' rer  is  at  last  relieved. 
Death,  the  deliverer,  to  his  rescue  came. 
On  him  the  healing  art  exhausted  skill, 
Trying  in  vain  its  choicest  remedies. 

Ariel.  Affection's  gushing  sympathies  on  him 
Lavished  their  kindest,  tenderest  ministries. 
Mother,  wife,  children,  multitudes  of  friends, 
Vied  ardently  in  fond  devotedness. 

Raphael.  He  was  a  model  husband,  father,  son; 
Was  much  devoted  to  the  sciences, 
To  art,  to  oratory,  and  to  law; 
And  literary  lore  was  his  delight. 

Tsrafiel.  In  arms  and  statesmanship  he  had  success,. 
And  reached  the  highest  station  under  heav'n. 

Zadkiel.  Th'  assassin's  bullet  killed  all  enmities, 
Turning  his  fiercest  party  foes  to  friends. 
His  agonizing  pains  struck  censure  dumb. 

ZophieL  The  millions  of  a  nation  sore  bereaved 
Lament  the  loss  of  their  chief  magistrate, 
And  Europe's  royalty  in  sympathy 
Sends  letters  of  condolence  o'er  the  sea. 

Zephon.  Six  months  ago  the  Czar  of  Russia  fell, 
A  victim  under  an  assassin's  hand. 
Thus  despots  have  been  slain  in  foreign  lands 
Through  many  years  with  mournful  frequency. 
But  these  self-governed  people  were  exempt 
From  deeds  of  violence  against  their  chiefs, 


MURDER  THE  HIGHWAY  TO  REXOWN.  241 

Till  old  John  Brown  was  made  a  model  saint, 
And  murder  was  the  highway  to  renown. 
Such  teachings  tend  to  multiply  Gitteaus. 

ZophieL  Death  reaps  rich  harvests  of  distinguished 

men 
Without  assassin's  blades  or  minie-balls. 

Zephon.  Death's  doings  need  not  be  reported  hero 
To  prove  assassination's  uselessness; 
But  if  you  will  add  Morton,  Hooker,  Black, 
Brave  Ouster,  Chandler,  Phillips,  Carpenter, 
With  thousands  killed  by  Scio's  earthquake  shock; 
But  give  your  highest  honors  to  the  names 
Of  Bryant  and  Longfellow,  sons  of  song, 
Whose  rhymes  ring  grandly  through  the  universe. 

Scene:  Concord,  Mass.,  4  P.M.,  April  SO,  1882.    ARIEL,  RAPHIEL. 
The  Burial  of  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson. 

Ariel.  The  lengthening  shadows  of  this  April  day 
Fall  mournfully  upon  an  open  grave 
Where  soon  shall  rest  the  honored  form  of  one 
Whose  death  sends  sadness  to  ten  thousand  homes. 
To  bury  him,  behold  what  hundreds  come 
Of  Boston's  literati  and  elite, 
With  eloquent  orations,  solemn  songs, 
A  tender  sonnet,  poetry  sublime, 
Inspired  Scripture,  fervent  prayers  to  God, 
Spring's  fairest  flowers,  her  greenest  laurel  wreaths. 

Raphael.  He  had  hereditary  genius,  wit, 
Gentility,  refinement,  and  good  taste. 
Learning,  philosophy,  and  poetry 
Unitedly  twined  honors  round  his  brow. 
Graceful  and  honest,  his  mild  manners  won 
Respectful  admiration  from  mankind. 
Admiring  thousands  followed  where  he  led, 
And,  fascinated,  copied  his  defects. 
His  brief,  concise,  unfinished  epigrams 
Gave  them  a  halting,  stumbling,  bitchy  style, 
In  which  t'  express  his  nebulous  conceits, 
And  throw  obscurity  round  what  he  taught. 
16 


242  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

His  "  nature,"  "  spirit,'-'  "  soul,"  and  "  over-soul " 

To  them  meant  pantheism  undisguised, 

Or  inspiration  of  the  Quaker  sort, 

Or  Swedenborgian  dreamy  mysticism, 

Leading  away  from  Christ,  from  God,  from  heav'n 

Toward  ill-defined  and  vague  uncertainties. 


RALPH  WALDO  EMERSON. 

Better  for  him  and  his  wise  followers 
The  iron  creed  which  his  forefathers  held; 
But  better  still  the  truth  of  God  as  taught 
By  the  Eedeemer  of  the  human  race. 
Here  is  firm  footing;  here  is  solid  ground 
On  which  the  humblest  of  his  children  build 
The  principles  of  sound  morality 


REPLY  TO  AGNOSTICS.  243 

And  glorious  hopes  of  endless  blessedness. 

O  God,  in  thy  great  goodness,  give  the  learned 

These  blessings  lavished  on  the  ignorant ! 

Scene :  Baltimore,  Md.,  1884.    Methodist  Centennial  Conference.    RA 
PHAEL,  ARIEL,  ZEPHON.     Theology. 

Ariel.  What  brings  these  thoughtful,  prayerful  people 
out? 

Zephon.  They  come  to  celebrate  th'  important  day 
That  gave  this  nation  its  first  bishop  here, 
And  organized  its  purest,  strongest  Church. 
A  hundred  years  have  set  the  seal  of  God 
On  their  devotion  to  his  sacred  cause. 

Ariel.  What  say  these  men  to  those  misguided  ones 
Who  in  their  hard  hearts  say :  "  There  is  no  God?  " 

Zephon.  When  pressed  by  such,  they  modestly  reply: 
"  Whence  came  this  universe  of  wondrous  worlds, 
The  marshaled  legions  of  a  countless  host, 
Marching  in  majesty,  with  tireless  step, 
In  glory  and  in  grandeur  through  the  skies? 
How  was  the  gay  and  gladsome  world  attired 
With  sparkling  gems  and  robes  magnificent, 
The  embodiment  of  beauteous  loveliness, 
As  if  to  claim  th'  admiring  love  of  heav'n? 
Whence  conscious  life  in  all  its  varied  forms, 
Its  grand  gradations,  its  mysterious  force? 
And  man  the  worshiper?  whence  his  desire 
To  trust  and  to  adore,  if  there's  no  God? 
Whence  his  astonishing  perceptive  pow'rs, 
His  quick  and  lively  sensibilities, 
His  lofty  reason,  his  potential  will, 
If  there's  no  God  in  all  the  universe? 
What  is  eternal,  if  it  is  not  God? 
What  are  the  leading  links  in  the  long  chain 
Of  secondary  causes  ?  "     The  reckless, 
Vain  agnostic  proudly  says  he  knows  not, 
And,  sneering,  says  he  does  not  want  to  know. 
Perhaps  he  fears  a  rival  on  the  throne 
Where  self  receives  the  homage  of  his  heart, 
And  hence  concludes  to  know  no  other  god. 


24<1  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Raphael.  But  a  wise  scientist  must  know  it  all, 
Or  seek  to  know  it  all,  and  teach  it  too. 

Zephon.  "A  fev'rish  mass  of  phosphorated  brain," 
He  says,  "spins,  spider-like,  a  misty  web 
Of  philosophic  thoughts  of  evolution." 
What  he  calls  evolution  he  asserts 
Makes  lifeless  law  by  dull,  dead  force  evolve; 
"Hot,  hissing,  blazing,  embryonic  globes" 
"  Evolved  from  yielding  luminiferous  ether," 
Or  from  "primordial  hydrogen,  molded 
In  some  atomic  vortex  "  deep  and  wide. 
Whence  came  the  ether  or  the  hydrogen 
Our  wise  men  do  not  condescend  to  tell. 
But  evolution  hardens  those  hot  globes 
To  rocks,  to  metals,  or  to  ocean's  bed ; 
"  Decomposition  clothes  their  surfaces 
With  soil  or  water,  and  the  sun  gives  warmth," 
"Atoms  infinitesimal"  become 
The  "protoplastic  germs  of  quick'ning  life" 
No  microscopic  glass  has  yet  revealed. 
Ten  thousand  ages  pass,  and  these  become 
Distinctly  "  animalcules."     Then  slowly 
Through  interminable  centuries  in 
Leisurely  succession,  wriggling  into 
Being,  come  "  maggots,  worms,  minnows,  monkeys," 
And  even  great  philosophers  themselves, 
As  evolution's  last,  completest  work. 

Ariel.  In  forty  weeks  God's  providence  evolves 
From  one  infinitesimal  live  germ 
The  various  metamorphoses  required 
To  make  a  full-fledged  infant  scientist. 

Zephon.  Yes,  that  is  true,  but  hear  the  argument: 
"  This  evolution  of  all  things,"  they  say, 
"  Proceeds  from  natural,  unchanging  law, 
Inherent  in  unliving  or  dead  force 
That  in  unconscious  or  dead  matter  dwells. 
How  could  a  changeless  and  unvarying  law 
Cause  variations  in  its  own  effects? 


LIFE  COMES  FROM  LIFE.  215 

According  to  this  fancied  theory, 
At  ev'ry  step  of  evolution's  march 
Through  ages  past  resistless  law  cried,  "Stop! " 
And  evolution  had  no  pow'r  t'  evolve. 
Immutability  must  ever  be 
Omnipotent,  in  an  unliving  law, 
Forbidding  progress  and  preventing  change. 
Under  the  rigid  reign  of  changeless  law 
Eternal  fires  through  nature's  boundless  realm, 
If  kindled  once,  must  ever  burn  and  blaze. 
If  burning  globes  were  formed,  unvarying 
Law  would  bid  them  burn  forever.     Lifeless, 
Unchanging  law  would,  in  a  lifeless  world, 
Eternize  lifelessness  and  death  enthrone. 


Raphael.  All  law  implies  a  maker  of  the  law, 
Authority,  intelligence,  and  will 
To  modify,  suspend,  enforce,  repeal. 
This  theory  still  lacks  the  Christian's  God 
To  give  and  to  administer  its  law; 
But  needs  him  most  to  make  its  universe, 
And  people  it  with  living  worshipers. 

Zephon.  Unliving  law,  inherent  in  dead  force, 
Could  never  from  dead  substance  life  evolve, 
Nor  from  unconscious  nothingness  evoke 
A  living,  conscious,  active  intellect. 
Life  comes  from  life,  comes  from  the  life  Divine  — 
Life  unoriginated,  underived, 
Eternal,  self-existent,  infinite ! 
Without  whom  nothing  did  or  could  exist. 
Keceive  in  faith  this  great  foundation  fact, 
And  they  may  build  what  theories  they  please. 
They  are  but  thoughts.     They  may  be  true  or  false. 
Take,  if  they  must,  a  past  eternity 
For  evolution  under  changeless  law ; 
But  drive  not  God  out  of  his  universe, 
The  God  who  made  it  and  pronounced  it  good. 
Think  of  that  period  in  the  distant  past 
When  only  God  filled  all  immensity. 


246  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

He,  the  sole  Self-existence,  the  I  Am, 

No  atom,  force,  law,  motive,  purpose,  plan, 

Nor  possibility  but  in  himself. 

Then  of,  and  by,  and  for  himself  alone, 

Creation's  mighty  fabric  was  produced. 

For  of  him,  to  him,  through  him  are  all  things. 

He  was  the  All !     He  now  exists  in  all, 

Yet  quite  distinct  from  all  created  things. 

He  still  supports  and  governs  what  he  made.  » 

He  is  the  Father.     All  depend  on  him, 

His  arms  embrace  them  and  his  pow'r  protects. 

Pervading  space,  filling  immensity, 

His  awful  voice  has  frequently  been  heard, 

His  pow'rful  presence  ev'rywhere  is  felt, 

Yet  nowhere  seen  by  any  eye  of  man ; 

For  no  man  hath  at  any  time  seen  God. 

No  man  hath  seen  him,  nor  can  any  man 

Behold  the  omnipresence  of  the  Lord. 

Too  broad  for  human  sight,  ubiquity 

Defies  all  finite  pow'r  his  form  to  scan. 

No  creature  is  ubiquitous.     Give  one 

The  speed  of  thought  and  perfect  holiness 

Attracting  him  to  the  Most  Holy  One; 

Of  omnipresence,  what  could  he  perceive? 

Only  so  much  as  might  be  manifest 

At  one  small  point  in  universal  space, 

In  one  brief  moment  of  fast  fleeting  time. 

The  infinite  beyond  remains  unseen. 

A  natural  impossibility 

Denies  to  sight  divino  ubiquity. 

Raphael.  But  have  not  men  seen  and  conversed  with 
God? 

Zephon.  Yes;  God,  the  Son,  hath  often  talked  with  men ; 
Adorned  their  feasts  with  his  loved  countenance; 
Revealed  himself  to  Adam,  Abel,  Cain, 
Seth,  Enoch,  Noah,  Abraham,  and  Job, 
To  Isaac,  Jacob,  Moses,  Joshua, 
And  many  other  saints  of  ancient  times. 
Yes,  his  delights  were  with  the  sons  of  men. 


MANIFESTED  DEITY.  247 

'Twas  ho  became  incarnate,  wore  the  flesh, 

And  shed  his  blood  to  save  a  sinful  race. 

lie  conquered  Satan,  death,  and  left  the  grave, 

To  reign  till  ev'ry  foe  shall  be  subdued. 

'Tis  He  in  his  humanity  shall  judge 

The  countless  millions  of  angelic  hosts, 

And  men  in  his  eternal  likeness  mado, 

In  glorified  humanity  enthroned, 

Shall  rule  in  righteousness  the  universe, 

Through  all  the  cycles  of  eternity. 

Raphael.  And  does  the  Holy  Ghost  reveal  himself 
To  sight  as  well  as  to  the  throbbing  heart? 

Zephon.  The  Holy  Spirit  manifests  himself 
In  dove-like  hoverings  of  lambent  flame. 
So  he  was  seen  by  Moses  on  the  Mount 
Of  Horeb,  when  the  bush  burned  unconsumed; 
And  upon  Sinai,  when  the  prophet's  face 
Bore  off  its  borrowed  brightness  to  the  camp. 
Isaiah  beheld  him  when  the  triune  God, 
Throned  in  the  temple,  sent  him  to  his  work. 
When  at  the  baptism  of  the  Son  of  God 
The  Holy  Ghost  descended  on  his  head, 
'Twas  in  a  glorious,  dove-like  form  he  came. 
At.Pentecost  in  cloven  tongues  of  fire, 
On  apostolic  heads  his  brightness  shone. 
Thus,  while  ubiquity's  too  vast  for  sight, 
The  unembodied  Father  is  not  seen. 
But  Deity  is  manifested  by 
Th'  eternal  Son  and  by  the  Holy  Ghost. 
Doubtless  the  Son  in  human  form  divine, 
The  Holy  Ghost  in  dazzling  glory  bright, 
Did  manifest  supreme  Divinity 
From  the  first  moment  when  created  light 
Made  motion,  form,  and  color  visible. 

Ariel.  Are  there  not  some  who  still  deny  the  Son 
The  worship  due  to  his  most  honored  name, 
And  say  the  Holy  Ghost  is  not  divine, 
And  call  triunity  irrational? 


248  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Zcphon.  There  are,  but  Christ  claimed  worship  and 
The  adoration  of  inspired  men.  [received 

He's  an  impostor  if  he's  not  divine; 
Triunity  is  not  irrational; 
We  reason  from  the  known  to  the  unknown. 
Nature  abounds  in  things  that  are  triune. 
In  God's  own  image  man  was  made  triune; 
He  craves  companionship  and  pines  away 
If  left  with  none  to  banish  loneliness. 
Yet  Arians  leave  their  Unitarian  God 
Through  all  the  cycles  of  eternity 
That  passed  before  the  universe  was  made, 
Self-doomed  to  solitary  loneliness. 
They  make  immensity  his  prison-house, 
With  none  to  share  the  horrors  of  his  fate. 
They  own  that  God  is  love,  but  love  requires 
An  object,  its  affection  to  receive. 
Love  passes  over  to  the  object  loved. 
What  was  there  for  a  Unitarian  God 
To  lavish  love  upon  before  the  dawn 
That  ushered  in  creation's  natal  day? 
lie  of  necessity  must  then  have  been 
A  God  of  uncompanioned  solitude, 
In  isolated  selfishness  enthroned. 
Not  so  the  Christian's  God  reveals  himself! 
Our  God  is  love.     Triunity  in  him 
Ineffably  unites  loving  and  loved 
In  infinitely  joyful  fellowship. 
Three  real  persons  most  distinctively ; 
Yet  in  their  nature,  essence,  substance,  one. 
Alike,  eternal,  good,  immutable, 
Omnipotent,  omniscient,  holy,  just, 
Their  omnipresence  through  the  realms  of  space 
Necessitates  eternal  unity 
In  the  divine,  the  purely  spiritual. 
Onr  God  is  love.     Compassion  for  the  lost 
Gave  the  divine,  eternal  Son  to  die, 
Redemption  to  provide  for  Adam's  race. 
He  through  the  ages  calls  his  ransomed  home. 
Man's  access  to  the  Father's  through  the  Son 
By  the  felt  power  of  the  Holy  Ghost. 


EVENTS  MUST  BE  AS  FOREKNOWN.  249 

Ariel.  Some  men  assert  that  from  eternity 
God  did  most  freely  and  unchangeably 
Wisely  ordain  whatever  comes  to  pass; 
That  all  events  in  him  originate, 
All  destinies  depend  on  his  decrees, 
Established  ere  he  made  the  universe; 
That  one  cannot  be  added  to  the  saved, 
Nor  one  diminished  from  the  number  lost. 
They  say  contingencies,  if  once  allowed, 
Might  overturn  his  righteous  government, 
Dethrone  the  Lord,  and  wreck  the  universe. 

Zephon.  He  has  not  so  revealed  himself  to  us. 
God  does  not  ordain  all  that  comes  to  pass. 
Sin  comes  to  pass  which  he  could  not  ordain, 
For  he  prohibits  sin  and  threatens  death 
To  all  who  violate  his  righteous  law. 
He  has  no  secret  will  to  set  aside 
The  teachings  of  his  own  inspired  word. 
The  sovereignty  of  God  is  absolute, 
His  universe  is  under  his  control, 
His  wisdom  and  his  power  are  limitless. 
By  his  decree  angels  and  men  exist, 
Created  free  to  freely  serve  their  God. 
This  finite  freedom,  if  unlimited 
Except  by  its  inherent  weaknesses, 
Finds  ample  scope  for  its  free  exercise 
Without  endangering  the  throne  of  God. 
Unfettered,  finite  freedom's  loftiest  flight 
Falls  far  below  th'  encircling  infinite. 

Ariel.  They  say  if  he  does  not  ordain,  he  knows, 
And  that  foreknowledge  certainly  implies 
Fore-ordination  by  the  all-wise  God. 

Zephon,  Not  so.     Fore-ordination  is  the  cause 
Of  all  that  ever  has  been  fore-ordained ; 
Fore-ordination  causes  the  thing  known, 
But  knowledge  causes  not.     'Tis  what's  foreknown 
Causes  the  knowledge  and  must  govern  it, 
But  though  foreknowledge  does  not  cause  what's  known, 
The  absolute  foreknowledge  of  events 


250  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Implies  the  certain!}-  of  what  is  known, 

Because  the  Lord  can  never  be  deceived. 

Th'  event  will  be  as  certainly  foreknown. 

All  that  depends  on  human  liberty 

Can  only  as  contingencies  be  known, 

Uncertainty  of  action  must  forbid 

All  certainty  of  knowledge  of  the  act. 

Contingent,  as  they  were,  on  human  wills, 

There  was  not  any  thing  to  know  till  man 

Freely  determined  what  that  thing  should  be. 

And  the  same  man  might  freely  change  again 

From  evil  unto  good,  or  bad  to  worse. 

God  knows  all  things  precisely  as  they  are; 

His  knowledge  is  exact  and  accurate. 

Some  things  he  knows  as  fore-ordained  by  him 

Before  the  race  of  man  began  to  be. 

Of  these  his  knowledge  is  most  absolute. 

Such  was  his  purpose  to  create  mankind 

With  freedom  to  obey  or  disobey. 

Such  is  redemption's  glorious  mystery. 

The  gen'ral  judgment,  the  triumphal  reign 

Of  our  great  Saviour  over  all  his  foes, 

And  the  enthronement  of  his  honored  saints, 

With  him  in  glory  through  eternity. 

Some  great  events  were  fore-ordained  and  known 

For  years  before  they  actually  took  place. 

Such  was  the  deluge.     Such  was  Israel's  march 

From  Egypt  to  the  glorious  promised  land, 

And  Judah's  from  the  plains  of  Babylon, 

When  sent  by  Cyrus,  the  "Elect  of  God." 

But  many  things  were  as  contingent  known, 

Because  dependent  on  free  agency. 

So  "  God  repented  that  he  had  made  man 

When  man  had  sinned  and  grieved  him  at  his  heart." 

To  Israel  made  his  "  breach  of  promise  known," 

And  let  them  perish  in  the  wilderness. 

So  disobedient  Saul  was  doomed  to  death. 

So  David's  sin  brought  punishment  and  grief: 

His  penitence  found  mercy  with  the  Lord. 

So  Hezekiah's  life  was  lengthened  out, 

And  Nineveh's  destruction  was  postponed. 


OUR  GOD  IS  FREE.  251 

So  Judas  fell  from  his  apostleship 
To  depths  of  degradation  and  despair, 
While  humble  Peter's  penitential  tears 
Obtained  forgiveness  from  his  loving  Lord. 

Raphael.  Thus  ev'ry  sinner  who  has  been  forgiv'n 
Illustrates  the  great  principle  involved. 
God  changes  not.     Ho  ever  is  the  same, 
Nor  does  he  change  his  purposes  or  plans. 
But  when  men  change,  he  gladly  welcomes  them 
With  changed  relations  toward  his  government. 
When  men  with  gracious  freedom  turn  from  sin 
To  seek  salvation  through  the  Saviour's  blood, 
Then  God  beholds  his  ransomed  with  delight, 
Welcomes  the  prodigal  in  loving  arms, 
And  says  the  dead's  alive,  the  lost  is  found. 
He  knew  them  once  as  sinners  doomed  to  death ; 
He  knows  them  now  as  heirs  of  endless  life. 

Zephon.  God  the  immutable  can  never  change, 
But  his  foreknowledge  of  contingencies, 
His  knowing  all  things  as  they  really  are, 
His  unrestricted  freedom  from  control 
Provides  for  mercy  through  atoning  blood 
And  leaves  him  free  to  show  that  God  is  love. 
Love  from  the  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost 
Brings  to  the  penitent  from  Calvary 
Grace,  mercy,  peace,  and  everlasting  life, 
While  justice,  holiness,  and  truth  approve. 

Eaphael.  Our  God  is  free  !     Most  absolutely  free! 
No  mythologic  fate  is  over  him, 
Nor  is  he  chained  to  an  "  Eternal  Now" 
Forbidding  action  and  restraining  love; 
Nor,  as  a  false  philosophy  asserts, 
Is  a  concatenation  of  events 
Held  in  his  hand  to  help  him  govern  worlds, 
Lest  they  escape  beyond  his  wise  control. 
Nor  did  he  from  eternity  enact 
Augustine's  and  John  Calvin's  stern  decrees, 
Ordaining  whatsoever  comes  to  pass, 


252  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Forbidding  hope  to  millions  ere  they  lived, 
And  dooming  little  infants  to  be  damned. 
Fore-ordination  binds  not  loving  hands, 
Foreknowledge  fetters  not  the  Saviour's  feet, 
Omniscience  does  not  drive  omnipotence 
To  the  performance  of  a  task  prescribed. 
No  bondage  to  eternal  prescience 
Forbids  eternal  love  to  save  mankind. 
No  despot  attribute's  resistless  force 
Withholds  from  men  the  saving  grace  of  God. 
He  freely  governs  those  whom  he  made  free. 
His  knowledge  of  contingencies  is  puch 
That  by  his  all-wise,  comprehensive  plan 
Man's  finite  freedom  through  its  grand  career 
Is  unobstructed  by  the  infinite. 
The  freedom  of  the  infinite  provides 
For  all  emergencies  that  can  arise 
From  finite  freedom's  largest  liberty. 
Most  freely  in  his  own  free  government 
Over  the  free,  in  his  free  likeness  made, 
Divinely  free  the  mighty  sovereign  rules! 


BOOK  TWELFTH. 


Scene:   Washington,  March  4,  1885,  at  the  Capitol    ABIHEL,  Zo- 

PHIEL,  ISRAFIEL. 

Abdiel.  A  nation  changes  rulers  here  to-day. 
The  party  that  was  dominant  goes  out, 
Producing  scarce  a  ripple  on  the  stream 
Of  its  unequaled  grand  prosperity. 

ZopJiiel.  Great  Washington's  completed  monument 
Looks  down  on  the  new  ruler  as  he  takes 
The  solemn  oath  that  binds  a  President 
The  Constitution  and  the  laws  t'  obey, 
Support,  enforce,  and  rightfully  maintain. 
But  Washington's  example  wields  a  force 
More  potent  than  laws,  oaths,  or  penalties 
To  lead  successors  into  rightful  paths. 

Israflel.  Short-sighted  men  imagine  that  they  see 
Impending  ruin,  like  an  avalanche, 
Descending  and  o'erwhelming  this  fair  land, 
Whenever  their  own  party's  overthrown. 
The  party  falls,  the  country  flourishes; 
It  thrives  and  gladdens  in  the  smile  of  God 
In  spite  of  all  the  tricks  of  selfishness. 
The  gifts  of  God  enrich  a  prosp'rous  land, 
And  make  it  an  example  to  the  world. 
Thrift,  enterprise,  invention,  science,  art 
Unveil  the  treasures  that  have  long  been  hid 
In  air,  in  earth,  in  waters,  and  in  mines, 
Until,  o'er  rivers  bridged,  through  mountains  drilled, 
Trade  heaps  up  treasures  brought  from  ev'ry  land, 
And  opens  avenues  from  shore  to  shore 
Till  the  Pacific  "  hears  "  the  Atlantic  "  roar." 

(253) 


(254) 


YOSE.M1TE  FALLS. 


NEVADA   FALL. 


(255) 


256  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Abdiel.  But  is  there  nothing  gained  by  all  the  strifes 
Of  noisy  parties  seeking  offices? 
Does  all  the  waste  of  time,  of  money,  zeal 
By  politicians  bring  no  lasting  good? 

Israfiel.  In  a  free  government  the  watchfulness 
Of  parties  over  parties  serves  to  check 
Extravagance  and  rashness,  and  detect 
Dishonesty  among  the  men  who  rule. 
The  "  ins  "  are  tempted  to  lay  hold  upon 
The  treasures  that  are  under  their  control; 
The  "  outs,"  though  not  more  honest,  are  inclined 
To  publish  and  expose  the  plunderers, 
And  hasten  to  eject  from  office  those 
Whose  hands  have  robbed  the  public  treasury. 
This  selfish  watchfulness  results  in  good. 

Zophiel.  Between  the  parties  of  the  present  time 
The  tariff  has  been  cause  of  much  dispute, 
But  the  protected  classes  are  too  strong 
To  loose  their  hold  upon  their  victims  yet. 
Hundreds  of  millions  of  ill-gotten  gains 
Serve  well  to  gain  a  thousand  millions  more 
T'  enrich  the  rich,  and  make  the  poor  more  poor. 

Abdiel.  This  new  administration  promises 
Reform  in  civil  service,  and  much  else 
That  tends  toward  honesty  and  uprightness. 
But  when  did  office-seekers  prove  sincere? 
The  hatreds  of  the  sections  Cleveland  hates, 
lie  will  encourage  unity  and  love; 
Will  know  no  North,  nor  East,  nor  West,  nor  South, 
But  one  broad  banner  waving  over  all 
The  dwellers  in  the  country  that  he  loves. 

Zophiel.   From  statesmen   let  us   turn   our  thoughts 

away 

To  those  who  subjugate  to  man's  control 
The  broad  domains  of  nature's  untrod  realms. 
The  telephone,  by  mute  electric  force, 
Conveys  the  human  voice  hundreds  of  miles 
On  paths  of  wire  to  seek  the  list'ning  ear. 


FUNERAL  OF  GRANT.  25? 

The  phonograph  catches  the  life-like  tones, 

Imprisons  them  so  that  they  may  bo  heard 

In  song,  or  speech,  or  cheerful  dialogue 

Through  days,  mouths,  years,  or  centuries  to  come. 

Electric  lights  drive  darkness  far  away 

From  streets,  from  dwellings,  churches,  halls,  or  shops, 

Kindling  bright  sunshine  in  the  darkest  nights. 

Electric  motors  easily  propel 

Swift  gliding  cars,  or  drive  machinery. 

From  depths  profound  come  gas  to  light  the  towns, 

Smelt  ores,  make  glass,  cook  food,  and  warm  the  homes 

Of  millions  in  the  cities  of  the  land. 

How  wonderfully  blest  of  God  are  those 

Who  claim  this  country  for  their  dwelling-place! 

Cleveland  and  Hendricks,  walking,  come  this  way. 

Scene:  Riverside  Park,  Overlooking  Hudson  River  and  New  York 
City,  August  8,  1885.    UZZIEL,  ITHURIEL,  ZADKIEL. 

Uzziel.  What  means  that  solemn,  mouraful  cavalcade, 
Inspiring  awe  along  the  crowded  streets, 
Awakening  grief  in  millions  of  sad  hearts, 
And  sending  sorrow  through  a  weeping  world  ? 

lihurid.  It  is  the  obsequies  of  General  Grant 
That  drape  in  mourning  all  the  eye  can  see, 
Hushing  to  stillness  all  irreverent  sounds. 
The  soldiers  that  he  led  to  victory 
Are  moving  slowly  toward  their  hero's  grave, 
And  the  great  geri'rals  against  whom  he  fought 
Pay  willing  honors  to  their  conqueror. 
They  come  like  true,  brave  brothers  of  the  brave, 
To  honor  and  lament  their  countryman, 
And  pledge  themselves  to  gallantly  defend 
The  union  of  the  country  that  he  loved. 
Henceforth  the  hatreds  of  the  sections  lie 
Forever  buried  in  the  grave  of  Grant. 
Men  of  all  sections  see  in  his  career 
Inspiring  lessons,  as  they  fondly  turn 
To  boyhood's  ventures,  manhood's  first  success 
Upon  the  battle-fields  of  Mexico; 
The  trials  of  his  life  till  Donelson 

17 


258  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Gave  to  his  name  the  charm  of  victory ; 
The  rapid  strides  by  which  he  rose  to  povv'r, 
The  honest  struggles  of  the  President 
To  stem  corruption's  overwhelming  tide, 
The  true  Republican  in  foreign  courts, 
The  honest  victim  of  a  sharper's  tricks, 
Toiling  with  failing  strength  to  pay  his  debts 
And  make  provision  for  a  widow's  wants; 
The  long,  brave  battle  with  disease  and  death, 
The  patriot's  love  for  his  whole  native  land, 
Give  Grant  the  tribute  of  a  nation's  tears, 
A  place  within  all  memories  and  hearts, 
As  his  old  comrades  lay  him  in  the  grave. 

Zadkiel.  Behold  the  peaceful  heroes  as  they  come! 
Hancock  superbly  leads  the  solemn  pomp, 
Conducting  the  great  chief  to  glory's  grave, 
Followed  by  those  who  knew  and  loved  him  best — 
Fond,  faithful  mourners  of  his  household  band; 
Then  as  pall-bearers,  Sherman,  Sheridan, 
Logan,  Jones,  Porter,  Eowan,  Boutwell,  Hoyt, 
Childs,  Drexell,  and  two  mourning  gentlemen 
Who  wore  the  gray  when  armies  bravely  fought ; 
Johnston  and  Buckner,  with  sincere  respect, 
Join  their  old  enemies  to  honor  Grant, 
And  mingle  tears  with  Union  veterans, 
Who  crowd  by  thousands  round  their  hero's  tomb. 

Scene:  House  of  Representatives,  Washington,  D.  C.,  6  P.M.,  October 
1, 1890.    MICHAEL,  GABRIEL. 

Michael.  Comrade,  we've  watched  the  glorious  destiny 
Of  this  great  people  more  than  sixscore  years. 
We've  seen  weak  colonies  become  great  States, 
With  thirty  times  the  number  that  rose  up 
To  Protest  against  British  tyranny. 
Sixty-three  millions  under  one  grand  flag 
Defy  the  power  of  a  world  in  arms. 
We've  seen  the  expansion  of  their  peaceful  rule 
From  Mexico's  warm  Gulf  to  arctic  seas. 
All  climates,  soils,  mines,  waters  now  combine 
To  pay  their  tribute  to  these  mighty  States. 


SATAN'S  BOASTFULKESS.  259 

What  can  a  nation  need  that  this  has  not? 

Peace  and  prosperity  with  magic  force 

Shall  draw  the  people  of  this  continent 

Till  in  an  equal  union  bound  by  love 

All  parts  of  this  vast  hemisphere  unite. 

Yes,  from  the  northern  to  the  southern  pole 

And  from  the  centers  of  surrounding  seas 

The  stars  and  stripes  of  freedom  soon  shall  float. 

Gabriel.  Your  vision  of  the  future  is  sublime. 
It  may  be  realized  in  years  to  come 
If  Satan  does  not  triumph  over  man. 
But  wo  have  witnessed  his  malign  control 
Of  millions  thirsting  for  each  other's  blood, 
Till  nothing  seems  impossible  or  hard 
To  be  accomplished  by  this  foe  of  man. 

Michael.  What  are  his  latest  shemes  to  overturn 
This  blessed  home  of  human  happiness? 

SATAN,  rushing  forward. 

Satan.  Michael,  I'm  here  to  answer  for  myself, 
And  hurl  defiance  at  your  heav'nly  hosts. 
I  claim  this  world  as  mine.     Its  Prince  !     Its  God  ! 
O'er  its  proud  millions  I  still  reign  supreme. 
What  right  have  you  to  prowl  through  my  domains, 
Skulking  in  these  high  places  where  I  rule? 
You  ask  what  are  my  latest  schemes  and  plans? 
Know  then  that  I  veil  not  my  grand  designs, 
But  boldly  execute  my  sovereign  will 
Before  the  faces  of  my  enemies. 
I  have  for  servants  mighty  ones  of  earth, 
Who  stop  at  nothing  when  I  lead  them  on, 
As  witness  Eeed,  McKinley,  Lodge,  and  Quay. 
With  such  as  those  to  back  me,  I  am  bold. 

Michael.  Satan,  I've  heard  before  your  boastful  words 
And  witnessed  your  malignant  practices. 
You  would  dethrone  th'  Almighty  if  you  could, 
And  on  the  ruins  of  his  universe 
Erect  mid  dismal  horrors  your  dark  throne. 
But  chains  of  darkness  limit  your  career; 


260  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Omnipotence  restrains  malignity. 

You  have  not  power  to  work  your  wicked  will. 

Forbear,  bravado,  lest  by  wrath  divine 

To  outer  darkness  you  should  be  consigned. 

Satan.  Michael,  I  laugh  to  scorn  yoursHly  threat. 
Malevolence,  forgetful  of  all  dread, 
Impels  me  on  to  triumph  over  men; 
And  proudly,  grandly  I  disdain  to  fear 
All  possibilities  of  punishment 
Or  unknown  horrors  of  most  dismal  fate. 
Know  then  that  Europe's  nihilistic  bands 
I'll  move  by  desperate,  destructive  deeds 
To  overwhelm  this  land  in  anarchy. 
By  socialistic  communists  I'll  drive 
Away  life's  gentle,  Christian  courtesies 
And  undermine  domestic  blessedness; 
Banish  all  Sabbath  laws  and  Sabbath  rest, 
And  fill  the  holy  day  with  revelry, 
Dragging  the  toil-worn  laborer  from  his  home, 
His  church,  and  life's  most  sacred  sanctities. 
I'll  move  Rome's  zealous  priests  to  strike  the  schools 
Where  patriotic  Christian  men  unite 
To  banish  bigotry's  malign  control 
And  teach  the  young  to  walk  in  wisdom's  ways. 
The  demagogues  of  this  free  land  shall  move 
To  place  the  children  under  the  control 
Of  princes  of  a  dethroned  despot's  court. 
Yes,  your  republicans  phall  bow  around 
The  thrones  of  haughty  red-clad  cardinals, 
And  give  them  money  to  enthrone  again 
Rome's  cast-off  tyrant  on  her  seven  hills. 

Michael.  Satan,  the  decent  people  of  this  land 
Will  hang  your  anarchists  and  nihilists. 
They'll  make  your  communists  behave  themselves, 
Or  limit  socialism  to  prison  bounds. 
The  public  schools,  time-tested  and  approved, 
Will  be  sustained  in  spite  of  ev'ry  foe. 
Americans  may  mumble  Latin  prayers 
And  toady  round  the  slaves  of  priestly  rule, 


ALCOHOLIC  D1UNK.  261 

With  loss  and  harm  to  no  one  hut  themselves. 
Satan,  you  are  the  sland'rer  of  mankind: 
"Accuser  of  the  brethren"  is  your  name. 
Why  throw  suspicion  upon  Catholics? 
Carroll,  of  Carrollton,  with  patriot  zeal, 
Stood  by  his  country  in  her  hour  of  need. 
Taney  and  Emmett  were  bold  Democrats, 
Upholding  Jeffersonian  principles. 
If  you  seduce  their^o-religionists, 
And  show  through  them  your  ugly,  cloven  foot, 
To  trample  upon  sacred  human  rights, 
As  you  have  often  done  in  other  lands, 
Your  dupes  will  hear  indignant  thunders  roll, 
And  feel  the  flashes  of  the  people's  wrath. 

Satan.  Your  optimistic  views  of  human  life 
Throw  their  red  rose  tints  over  this  fair  land. 
Indulge  them  while  you  can.   ,  It  suits  me  well 
To  hear  of  your  high  hopes.     I'll  blast  them  all 
And  rule  to  ruin  your  most  hopeful  pets. 
Another  means  of  ruining  the  race 
Is  by  the  tyranny  of  appetite. 
By  votes  of  silly  negroes  and  the  scum 
Of  Europe's  pauper  hordes  and  criminals 
I'll  fasten  on  this  country  the  vile  trade 
In  filthy  liquors,  that  sends  to  the  grave 
Eight  hundred  thousand  victims  in  ten  years; 
That  fills  asylums  with  mad  lunatics, 
Crowds  jails  and  prisons,  packs  the  pooi'-houses, 
Sends  mis'ry  to  twelve  hundred  thousand  homt\s, 
Hangs  ripened  fruits  of  crime  on  gallows  trees, 
And  fills  the  land  with  deeds  of  violence. 
Nay,  more,  to  prove  to  you  that  I  still  rule, 
Grave  judges,  Senators,  and  Governors 
Shall  be  degraded  victims  of  strong  drink; 
Shall  drag  their  lofty  honors  through  the  filth 
Of  pot-house  politics,  to  lead  the  hosts 
That  trample  on  all  law  in  hot  pursuit 
Of  public  plunder  and  illicit  gain. 

Michael.  Satan,  the  happy  people  of  this  land 
Havo  grown  familiar  with  your  villainy. 


262  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Soon  they  will  be  too  wise  to  vote  for  such 

As  you  would  elevate  to  seats  of  pow'r. 

The  accursed  traffic  by  which  men  get  drunk 

Will  be  prohibited  and  have  to  cease. 

This  old  device  of  yours  against  mankind 

Has  slain  its  millions,  may  slay  millions  more, 

But  men  will  not  forever  be  deceived. 

The  trade  is  doomed;  'twill  be  prohibited. 

Go,  braggart,  seek  for  plans  you  have  not  tried. 

-  Satan,  Michael,  you  are  the  braggart.     I  prevail 
In  every  conflict  with  the  hateful  race. 
In  spite  of  all  the  teachings  of  all  time 
And  all  the  heavenly  help  that  they  receive 
The  sons  of  Adam  will  be  drunkards  still. 
Hereditary  appetite's  too  strong  for  law, 
Too  strong  for  will,  for  conscience  to  control, 
"Will  make  them  slaves  to  poisonous  alcohol. 
The  hatreds  of  strong  parties  I've  inflamed, 
Hoping  to  see  a  furious  civil  war, 
With  ev'ry  voting  place  a  battle-field. 
The  party  that  made  voters  of  the  slaves 
Are  sadly  disappointed  when  they  see 
Blacks  represented  by  the  men  they  hate. 
They  know  that  large  majorities  of  whites 
Vote  solidly  against  them  ev'ry  time. 
Their  only  hope  of  carrying  "close  States" 
Is  based  upon  the  solid  negro  vote. 
New  York,  New  Jersey,  and  Connecticut, 
Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois, 
Theirs  only  by  the  grace  of  colored  men, 
Will  soon  to  them  most  hopelessly  be  lost. 
Hence  they  are  desp'rate  to  gain  Southern  States. 
They'll  have  them  if  they  have  to  fight  for  them. 
Hence  an  election  force  bill  is  proposed. 
A  host  of  saucy,  meddling  officers 
Are  to  attend  at  ev'ry  voting  place 
To  keep  the  meddling  party  still  in  poAv'r. 
The  President's  appointees  are  t'  appoint 
These  officers  to  teach  men  how  to  vote, 
And  how  to  skillfully  manipulate 


THE  RACE  QUESTION  SETTLED.  263 

Compliant,  rascally  "  returning  boards." 

When  these  my  "  men  of  seven  principles," 

"Five  loaves  and  two  small  fishes,"  raise  some  fights, 

A  new  rebellion  will  be  then  proclaimed, 

And  dogs  of  war  let  loose  against  the  South. 

Local  self-government  is  what  men  want; 

This  they  demand  all  over  this  fair  laud, 

And  when  they  see  these  myrmidons  of  pow'r 

Rudely  assailing  this  most  cherished  right, 

'Twill  stir  the  fires  of  strife,  both  North  and  South 

And  kindle  flaming  war  from  sea  to  sea. 

Michael,  my  plans  o'erwhelm  your  faculties; 

Your  utter  helplessness  provokes  contempt 

For  you  and  the  poor  subjects  of  your  care. 

Beware,  beware !  I'll  fill  this  land  with  blood. 

Michael.  Satan,  the  people  rising  in  their  might 
Will  vanquish  your  rash  meddlers  at  the  polls. 
An  avalanche  of  votes  shall  fall  on  them, 
And  bury  them  'neath  infumy  and  scorn. 
Five  weeks  shall  see  Lodge,  Hoar,  Houk,  Chandler,  Reed, 
Rebuked  by  an  indignant,  mighty  host 
Of  peaceful  patriots  through  the  ballot-box, 
And  Lodge's  Force  bill  take  its  place  by  right 
With  alien  and  sedition  laws  of  old. 
A  few  malignants  shall  not  stir  up  strife 
Among  the  peaceful  people  of  this  land — 
Yorktown,  Long  Island,  Bunker  Hill  forbid. 
Men  have  grown  sick  of  sectional  disputes; 
Nine-tenths  of  all  good  citizens  rejoice 
To  live  in  love,  and  let  all  hatreds  die. 
Self-interest  on  the  part  of  Northern  men. 
Will  settle  the  race  question  in  the  South. 
Mischievous  intermeddlers  must  retire, 
Or  ruin  the  investments  Northern  men 
Have  made  by  millions  in  the  great  Southland. 
Negroes  may  legislate  in  Congress  halls 
To  give  Republicans  majorities, 
But  a  black  government  on  Southern  soil 
Would  sink  the  capital  invested  there. 
Besides  all  this,  most  noble  Northern  men 


264:  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Despise  the  silly  hate  of  demagogues 

Between  the  people  of  the  same  grand  race. 

They  saw  their  brothers  of  the  South  grow  poor 

Through  eighty  years  of  tributary  trade, 

By  which  the  thrifty  North  was  much  enriched; 

They  saw  the  entrance  of  the  iron  wedge 

That  severed  friendship,  broke  the  bonds  of  love, 

And  drove  those  brothers  from  their  Union's  home. 

They  saw  them  strive  to  separate  in  peace, 

Accept  stern  war,  fight  bravely  for  their  cause — 

More  bravely  than  men  ever  fought  before— 

Pity  their  pris'ners,  beg  for  fair  exchange, 

Which  Stanton  would  not  grant  on  any  terms; 

Beg  the  rich  North  to  send  its  surgeons  down 

With  medicines  for  its  own  suff'ring  men, 

Asking  no  aid  for  Southern  helplessness. 

Saw  their  brave  brethren  conquered  and  subdued ; 

The  woe  that  waits  the  vanquished  frowned  on  them. 

The  South  in  ruins  smiled  at  poverty, 

And  welcomed  toil  as  its  hard  heritage; 

Yet  saw  its  fruits  of  labor  wrenched  away 

By  thieving  blacks,  by  alien  scoundrels  led; 

Then,  rising  in  its  manly  majesty, 

Cast  off  barbaric  hordes  and  rascal  rule, 

Obtained  from  heaven  renewed  prosperity, 

And  stands  to-day  the  peerless  conqueror 

Of  earth's  most  dread,  malign  adversity. 

Since  bled  by  tariffs,  and  by  pensions  robbed, 

Sees  the  great  North  grow  rich  at  its  expense. 

Ireland  to  landlords,  Poland  to  the  czar, 

Nor  conquered  provinces  to  ancient  Rome, 

Never  so  much  of  tribute  could  have  paid. 

And  so  the  wealthy,  the  triumphant  North, 

Owns  Southern  railroads,  mines,  and  furnaces, 

Banks,  factories,  plantations,  farms,  and  stores, 

With  dividends  sent  duly  to  the  North. 

The  North  men  own  hotels  and  palaces, 

All  occupied  by  North  men  half  the  year, 

Then  watched  by  North  men  till  North  men  return. 

The  South  looks  on  admiringly  to  see 

Northern  magnificence  and  wealth  displayed, 


CONFEDERATE   MONUMENT   AT   NASHVILLE. 


MILLIONS  OF  ILL-GOTTEN  WEALTH.  265 

And,  toiling  on,  begs  most  imploringly 

For  more  and  more  of  wealthy  Northern  men 

To  bring  still  more  of  Northern  capital ; 

Invites  and  welcomes  Northern  working-men 

To  build  up  homes  in  its  mild  Southern  clime, 

Hails  them  as  brethren  of  one  family. 

The  Southron's  trust  in  God,  his  fortitude 

While  boldly  fighting  with  adversity, 

His  patient  industry,  his  enterprise, 

His  Christ-like,  his  divine  forgetfulness 

Of  dreadful  suff' ring  wrongfully  endured, 

His  most  sincere,  undying  confidence 

That  Northern  men,  rebuking  tyranny, 

Will,  from  high  places  of  authority, 

Drive  out  his  bitter,  unrelenting  foes — 

All,  all  with  most  resistless  potency 

Appeal  to  Northern  magnanimity 

For  help  against  fanatic,  furious  hate. 

Nor  will  th'  appeal  be  vain.     Election  day 

Will  see  the  millions  of  the  mighty  North, 

With  gen'rous  sympathy,  indignant  rush 

To  hurl  their  ballots  against  despotism, 

And  free  their  Southern  friends  from  Reed,  from  Lodge, 

McKinley,  Ingalls,  Cannon,  and  their  dupes. 

'Twill  shake  the  tyrants  with  an  earthquake  shock, 

And  disappoint  your  base  malignancy. 

Satan.  Gabriel,  there's  millions  of  ill-gotten  wealth 
At  my  disposal  to  secure  results. 
We  can  buy  votes  enough  in  the  close  States 
To  overcome  your  large  majorities. 
We'll  do  it,  and  we'll  rule  with  heavy  hand 
In  spite  of  Northern  magnanimity 
And  sympathy  for  noble  Southerners. 
But  even  if  we  lose  November's  vote 
Our  famous  Congress  will  have  three  months  left 
In  which  to  drive  our  hated  Force  bill  through, 
And  any  legislation  we  may  need 
To  keep  the  country  under  my  control. 
They'll  pass  the  Force  bill,  and  insult  the  South, 
And  rob  the  treasury  to  pay  their  tools, 


266  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

If  the  next  Congress  should  by  two  to  one 
Condemn  our  grand  old  party's  sad  misrule. 

Michael.  If  they  should  be  so  steeped  in  tyranny 
As  to  despise  the  people's  spoken  will, 
It  will  but  seal  their  everlasting  doom, 
And  give  them  to  undying  infamy. 
Satan,  in  spite  of  your  malignity 
This  country  still  shall  flourish,  and  its  sons 
Shall  triumph  over  you  and  all  your  dupes. 

Satan.  But,  Michael,  here  in  this  broad  capital 
This  very  hour  my  grandest  scheme  prevails 
Against  all  common  sense,  all  scholarship, 
All  science,  all  economy,  and  thrift, 
All  friendships  of  the  nations  of  earth, 
And  the  best  judgment  of  earth's  shrewdest  men. 
McKinley's  Tariff  bill  is  now  a  law; 
In  this  my  friends  have  pleased  me  quite  too  well. 
So  much  taxation  people  will  not  bear; 
But  the  rich  manufacturers  had  paid 
Into  the  party's  great  corruption  fund 
Such  mammoth  sums  beyond  all  precedent, 
"We  could  deny  them  nothing  that  they  asked. 
They  saw  their  chance  and  piled  the  tariff  on 
Beyond  all  reason,  or  propriety. 
In  vain  wo  warned  them  not  to  kill  the  goose 
That  laid  for  them  so  many  golden  eggs. 
They  answered  that  they  had  a  bird  in  hand 
Worth  more  to  them  than  two  in  any  bush ; 
That  they  were  now  determined  to  make  hay 
While  summer  suns  shine  on  Republicans: 
And  so  the  monstrous  bill  was  hurried  through, 
From  which  they  hope  for  many,  many  years 
Of  peaceful  plunder  to  enrich  themselves. 
Sec !     Harrison  comes  forth,  followed  by  Blainc, 
By  Windom,  Tracy,  Proctor,  Miller,  Rusk, 
Noble  and  Mason,  and  McKinley  too, 
Proud  author  of  this  famous  Tariff  act. 
The  President  has  signed  the  robber  bill, 
Now  wealth  shall  glut  its  rav'nous  appetite 
At  the  expense  of  pinching  poverty. 


THE  POOR  POORER;    THE  RICH  RICHER.  267 

Michael.  He  signed  the  warrant  of  his  party's  death. 
McKinley  is  its  executioner. 
Yes,  this  is  "the  beginning  of  the  end" 
Of  the  bad  party  called  Republican. 

Satan.  Michael,  your  wish  was  father  to  that  thought. 
The  party  lives  to  work  my  sovereign  will. 
'Twill  still  live  on  to  give  protected  wealth    - 
A  longer  lease  of  pow'r  to  rob  the  poor. 
The  excise  and  the  tariff  ev'ry  day 
Take  a  round  million  for  the  treasury. 
To  raise  that  million  the  taxed  people  pay 
Four  millions  to  protected  industries. 
Domestic  manufactured  merchandise 
Costs  that  much  more  than  they  would  have  to  pay 
But  for  the  tariff  and  the  excise  laws. 
Thus  do  the  rich  heap  up  increasing  wealth, 
The  poor  sink  down  in  deeper  poverty. 
When  wealth  was  well  divided  in  this  land, 
Each  workman  hoped  that  he  would  become  rich ; 
But  now  the  millionaires,  trusts,  syndicates 
Can  dictate  wages,  prices,  and  rewards, 
Till  a  poor  man  must  starve  or  beg  or  steal, 
Or  take  for  wages  wealth's  most  grudging  dole 
For  the  hard  labor  of  his  horny  hands. 
Soon  this  oppression  becomes  heavier, 
And  hopeless  toil  sees  wondrous  stores  of  wealth 
Most  temptingly  appealing  to  desire, 
Yet  for  the  hardest  and  most  constant  work 
Can  earn  no  right  to  share  the  good  he  sees 
Beyond  a  pittance  to  sustain  his  life. 
Will  not  strong  hands  lay  hold  on  luxuries, 
Despising  all  the  rights  of  property, 
Giving  to  anarchy  and  lawless  rage, 
The  rich  inheritance  of  these  great  States, 
And  laying  all  their  glory  in  the  dust? 
Yes,  I  shall  see  destructive  forces  here 
Spoiling  the  grandeur  of  this  capitol, 
Shall  revel  'mid  the  ruins  I  have  wrought. 
With  fiendish  exultation  I  shall  gloat 
Over  archangels  driven  from  the  earth 


268  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

And  helpless,  hopeless  human  sufferers 
Enduring  unimagined  agonies. 
Michael,  draw  off  your  legions  to  the  skies. 
Leave  your  broad  banners  trailing  at  my  feet, 
Go  hide  within  the  battlements  of  heav'n, 
Flee  mourning  over  realms  that  you  have  lost; 
Go,  leave  me  in  my  glory  here  to  reign ! 

Michael.  Satan,  your  silly  boasting  I  despise ; 
No  threats  of  yours  can  daunt  whom  God  protects. 
Corruption's  legions  cannot  rule  this  land 
By  their  unprincipled,  compliant  tools. 
Sheer  selfishness  drives  them  to  nominate 
Men  of  a  nobler  class  for  offices 
Demanding  honor  and  integrity. 
How  wonderful  it  was  to  see  pure  men 
Like  Cleveland  and  like  Harrison  succeed 
In  winning  office  through  conventions  swayed 
By  many  of  the  most  unprincipled, 
Who  ever  sold  themselves  for  offices, 
Or  bartered  honor  for  advantages. 
Such  honest,  upright,  honorable  men, 
Selected  by  the  selfish  or  corrupt, 
Prove  heav'n's  own  watch-care  over  this  fair  land. 
So  down  to  latest  times  shall  God  preserve 
This  noblest  of  the  nations  of  the  earth. 
Your  robber  tariff  soon  will  be  repealed. 
The  people  in  their  might  and  majesty 
Will  soon  rise  up  against  your  tyranny. 
The  senate  and  the  representatives 
Will  pass  a  tariff  law  for  revenue, 
Will  take  the  hands  of  rich  monopolists 
Out  of  the  purses  of  the  laboring  poor, 
Will  build  up  commerce  with  a  whole  round  world, 
And  send  the  white-winged  argosies  of  trade 
To  ev'ry  port  beneath  the  smiling  heav'ns. 

Satan.  Michael,  the  hist'ry  of  the  human  race 
Is  but  the  record  of  my  victories. 
Go  seek  for  Babylon  and  Nineveh, 


ONWARD  TO  DECAY.  269 

Tyre,  Sidon,  Troy,  Carthage,  Palmyra,  Thebes, 

The  Greeks,  the  .Romans,  and  the  Saracens! 

I  gave  them  to  destruction,  and  they  fell. 

Think  you  these  people  but  of  yesterday 

Can  stand  against  my  strong,  resistless  might? 

The  greediness  of  gain  that  here  prevails 

Will  undermine  the  virtue  of  these  States. 

Such  selfishness  indulged  in  ancient  times 

Extinguished  all  the  glory  of  old  Home. 

The  rich  men  and  their  sons  monopolized 

The  good  things  of  the  empire  until  wealth 

Corrupted  young  patricians  and  left  none 

To  fight  the  battles  of  imperial  Home 

But  foreigners  and  rude  barbarian  hosts. 

The  men  who  would  have  formed  a  living  wall 

Between  their  country  and  its  enemies 

Had  vanished  from  the  places  that  they  loved. 

They  slept  in  death,  while  rich  men  and  their  slaves 

Became  the  prey  of  vile  barbarians. 

But  selfishness  seeks  only  its  own  good ; 

It  heaps  up  wealth  no  matter  who  may  lose. 

A  hundred  millions  wants  a  hundred  more, 

A  thousand  would  another  thousand  add. 

For  this  high  tariffs  tax  the  toiling  poor, 

Wages  reduced  give  lab'rers  scanty  food, 

Scant  clothing,  fuel,  books,  and  ev'ry  thing. 

The  very  rich  grow  richer  hour  by  hour, 

The  very  poor  more  num'rous  every  day. 

When  these  two  classes  cover  the  whole  land 

Then  anarchy  or  slavery  must  prevail, 

And  your  great  nation  takes  the  downward  grade 

By  which  old  Eome  passed  onward  to  decay. 

Michael,  the  evils  that  o'erthrew  old  Rome 

Are  actively  and  dang'rously  at  work. 

They'll  give  your  millions  to  destruction  soon. 

I'll  drive  my  chariot  over  their  remains, 

And  hell  shall  celebrate  their  obsequies 

By  crowning  its  great  chief  with  honors  won 

In  battles  with  the  proud  Americans! 

At  my  grand  triumph  I  would  gladly  drag 

Gabriel  and  Michael  at  my  chariot  wheels. 


270  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Michael.  The  Lord  rebuke  thee,  Satan  !     I  behold 
Like  lightning  your  descent  to  deeper  depths 
Of  degradation  and  disgraceful  crime. 
Go,  wretch  !     [Satan  disappears.]     The  curse  of  God 

abides  on  you 

Until  the  sentence  of  the  day  of  doom 
Consigns  you  to  the  "  pit  that's  bottomless," 
The  "outer  darkness,"  and  the  " lake  of  tire." 

Gabriel.  Michael,  that  foe  of  God.  and  men  departs. 
Let  us  now  profit  by  his  boastful  threats. 
The  people  will  rebuke  his  guilty  dupes 
And  banish  them  from  their  high  seats  of  pow'r. 
Tariffs  and  force  bills  we  need  dread  no  more, 
Nor  Reed's  pretentious,  petty  tyranny. 
But  wealth  and  poverty  in  hostile  ranks, 
Increasing  their  great  armies  day  by  day, 
And  alcohol  disguised  in  tempting  drinks 
Are  evils  that  demand  most  watchful  care. 

Michael.  Yes,  Gabriel,  danger  threatens  at  these  points, 
And  selfishness  will  counteract  our  plans; 
But  we  must  lift  taxation  from  the  poor, 
And  help  them  to  control  their  appetites. 
Yes,  we  must  now  with  watchful,  honest  care 
Double  the  duty  and  the  excise  on 
tobacco  and  intoxicating  drinks 
Till  prohibition  drives  them  out  of  use. 
From  ev'ry  dollar  of  the  capital 
Of  money-making  trusts  and  syndicates, 
And  other  corporations  that  get  gain, 
Collect  three  mills  in  each  and  ev'ry  year. 
If  more  is  needed  for  the  public  use, 
Collect  it  from  existing  capital. 
Less  than  a  thousand  dollars  should  not  pay 
A  cent  into  the  public  treasury. 
A  hundred  thousand  should  pay  double  tax; 
One  million  should  pay  double  that  again, 
Over  ten  millions  double  that  high  rate. 
Except  tobacco  and  intoxicants, 
Let  nothing  pay  tariff  or  excise  tax. 


WEALTH  IN  CITIES.  271 

If  there  must  be  protected  industries, 
Protect  by  bounties  from  the  treasury 
To  cheapen  what  the  poor  man  has  to  buy. 
All  moneys  for  the  nation  or  the  States 
Should  through  collectors  of  one  class  be  paid 
Into  the  nation's  common  treasury. 
Thence  draw  by  States  according  to  the  sum 
Of  population  on  the  ground  of  each. 
Cities  and  towns  would  only  have  to  tax 
For  municipal  purposes  alone. 

Gabriel.  But,  Michael,  how  would  that  affect  State 
rights? 

Michael.  'Twould  give  the  States  a  right  to  find  their 

wealth 

Now  hid  in  the  rich  cities  of  the  land, 
Or  swallowed  by  incorporated  trusts. 
Let  the  robbed  people  understand  their  rights, 
Amend  the  Constitution,  and  thus  save 
Impoverished  millions  from  shrewd  millionaires. 
The  common  people  pay  the  taxes  now 
By  tariff  and  by  excise  laws,  and  pay 
The  manufacturers  four  times  as  much 
In  higher  prices  for  their  merchandise. 
Reverse  this :  lift  the  burden  from  the  poor, 
Let  wealth  pay  taxes  and  pay  bounties,  too, 
So  that  protected  industries  may  thrive. 
'Twould  save  the  poor  two  billions  ev'ry  year 
Without  denying  wealth  its  luxuries. 
A  court  of  equity's  authority 
Could  hold  the  scales  of  justice  evenly 
Between  hard  labor  and  stern  capital, 
Assigning  each  its  just  and  rightful  snare 
Of  profits  from  their  joint  activity, 
And  thus  avoid  most  wasteful,  costly  strikes. 
Thus  might  the  poor  grow  richer  year  by  year, 
Hushing  the  loud  complaints  of  poverty, 
The  rich  become  true  brothers  of  the  poor, 
Fearing  no  evil  from  invet'rate  hate. 


272  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Gabriel.  Michael,  corruption  in  high  places  seems 
Too  strong  to  yield  success  to  your  wise  plans. 
The  selfish  rich  will  strive  by  bribery 
To  hold  the  advantages  they  now  possess 
For  gath'ring  up  the  coppers  of  the  poor. 
They'll  madly  work  'gainst  honor,  justice,  right, 
To  hoard  up  wealth  that  they  can  never  use, 
Nor  many  generations  of  their  heirs. 
You'll  find  it  hard  to  stem  so  strong  a  tide. 

Michael.   But,  Gabriel,  this  great   nation   reads  and 

thinks; 

It  reasons  well  upon  its  own  affairs; 
It  rules  its  millions  through  the  ballot-box; 
It  will  not  suffer  low-lived,  vile  saloons 
To  prey  upon  its  vitals  as  they  have. 
'Twill  not  permit  ten  thousand  wealthy  men 
To  undermine  the  people's  liberties 
And  trample  on  the  millions  of  the  free. 
It  will  not  wait  till  revolution  rends 
The  glorious  fabric  which  the  fathers  built; 
But,  peaceably  and  quietly,  will  find 
A  remedy  for  ev'ry  threatening  ill. 
With  optimistic  vision  I  foresee 
Prosperity  and  greatness  for  this  land 
In  spite  of  selfishness  and  Satan's  schemes. 
Parties  may  change,  factions  may  gender  strife  \ 
But  Christian  character  shall  grandly  rise 
Above  corruption's  overwhelming  tide, 
And  steer  the  ship  of  State  in  safety  on 
To  peaceful  ports,  secure  from  every  storm. 
This  people,  mightiest  that  earth  has  known, 
Shall  tower  in  grandeur  and  magnificence 
Sublimely  over  an  admiring  world 
Till  Christ  shall  come  to  reign  in  righteousness. 


INDEX. 


A  court  to  prevent  losses  by 

workmen  and  employers,  234, 

271. 

A  court  to  prevent  war,  127. 
Adams,  John, 50,01,08, 104, 124, 

137. 

Adams,  John  Q.,  129,  134, 151. 
Adams,  Samuel,  32, 33, 50, 60, 95. 
Africa,  22. 
Agnostics,  243. 
Alabama,  129. 
Alabama  claims,  231. 
Alamo,  139. 
Alaska,  227. 
Alcoholic  drinks,  22,  105,  234, 

235,  270. 
Alexander,  62. 
Alexandria,  58. 
Alien  and  sedition  laws,  113. 
Allen,  Ethan,  63. 
Allies  of  Washington,  70. 
America  a  greater  Britain,  8. 
Anarchy,  260. 
Anderson,  Major,  171. 
Andre,  Major,  82. 
Angels,  3,  187. 
Annapolis,  89. 
Arianism  unnatural,  248. 
Ariup,  107. 
Arkansas,  145,  190. 
Arkansas  Post,  189. 
Arnold,  Benedict,  82. 
Arson :  Dun  more,  59 ;  Tryon,  80 ; 

Arnold,  82;    Lord  Ross,  127; 

Sherman,  201 ;  Sheridan,  201 ; 

Hunter,  203;  Early,  203. 
Asbury,  43,  106. 
Atheists,  243. 
Atlanta,  198,  201. 
Augustine,  107,  251. 

18 


Babylon,  62,  248. 

Buchman,  208. 

Baker,  175. 

Ball's  Bluff,  175. 

Baltimore,  52,  69. 

Bancroft,  152. 

Bank,  146. 

Banks,  178,  183,  194. 

Bankrupt  law,  146. 

Bayard,  113. 

Beattie,  38. 

Beauregard,  171,  172. 

Beecher,  153. 

Bennett,  153. 

Bethel,  171. 

Bingham,  169. 

Black  Boomerang,  230. 

Black  Dinah,  208. 

Black  Friday,  229. 

Black  Hawk,  139. 

Black  River  Bridge,  189. 

Blenheim,  32. 

Bonaparte,  122. 

Boonville,  174. 

Boston  massacre,  36. 

Boston  Port  bill,  50. 

Botetourte,  25. 

Bracito,  149. 

Brandywine,  75. 

Brahma,  107. 

Breckinridge,  John  C.,  191, 199, 

212,  215.  216,  217. 
Breckinridge,  W.  C.  P.,  217. 
Bright,  J.  D.,  151. 
Bristol,  52. 

British  boundary,  146, 150. 
Brown,  General,  122. 
Brown,  John,  153,  188. 
Bryant,  "W.  C.,  153. 
Buckner,  170,  258. 

(273) 


274 


INDEX. 


Buddha,  107. 
Buena  Vista,  147. 
Bunker  Hill,  01, 131. 
Burgoyne,  73. 
Burks,  20,  56. 
Burnside,  177,  183. 
Burr,  113. 

Butler,  Ben  F.,  178,  195. 
Butler,  Wm.  O.,  149. 

Cabinet  dissolved  (Jacksou's), 

138. 

Cadets,  199. 
Calhoun,  118,  128,  138. 
Calvin,  107,251. 
Camden,  20,  30. 
Cameron,  169. 
Canada,  55,  65, 123, 124. 
Cass,  151. 

Catharine  of  Russia,  23. 
Cedar  Mountain,  183. 
Centennial    of    Independence, 

231. 

Centennial  of  Methodism,  243. 
Centerville,  183. 
Cerro  Gordo,  149, 
Champion  Hills,  189. 
Chandler  of  Michigan,  169. 
Chan  Her  of  New  Hainp.,  263. 
Chantilly,  183. 
Charleston,  29,  47,  52,  81,  158, 

169. 

Charlotte,  Queen,  31,  37. 
Chase,  152,  169. 

Chatham,  8, 20,  26, 31,  34, 38, 56. 
Chapultepec,  147. 
Chauncey,  120. 
Cherokees,  145,  202. 
Chickamauga,  190. 
Chihuahua,  149. 
China,  23. 
Choiseul,  29. 

Christmas  Christians,  118. 
Clarke,  George  Rogers,  79. 
Clay,  Henry,  118,  139,  143,  147, 

151. 

Clay,  Henry  Jr.,  148. 
Clay,  James  B.,  223. 
Clinton,  81. 


Clive,  23. 

Coercion  of  States,  162. 

Cold  Harbor,  196,  199. 

Columbus,  8. 

Compromise  of  1821. 

Compromise  of  1850. 

Confucius,  107. 

Conspiracy  against  Washington, 

76 

Contracts  North  and  South,  92. 
Cordilleras,  149. 
Cornwallis,  70,  72,  83,  87. 
Corruption,  163,  229,  230,  237. 
Covington,  Ky.,  192. 
Cow  per,  38. 
Currency,  238. 
Curtis,  177. 
Gushing  Caleb,  195. 
Gushing  Lieutenant,  204. 

Dalrymple,  32. 

Damascus,  62. 

Daniel,  9. 

Dahlgren,  180. 

Davis,  Jefferson,  147,  173,  210. 

Davis,  JeffC,  171,  209. 

De  irborn,  120. 

Decatur,  123,  128. 

Declaration  of  lndependence,68. 

De  Estaing,  79,  81. 

Defects  of  the  Constitution,  101. 

Demagogues,  155. 

Destitution,  81. 

Dickinson,  John,  45,  52. 

Donelson,  Fort,  175. 

Doniphan,  149. 

Dorr,  145. 

Douglass,  151,  157. 

Downie,  122. 

Dudley,  120. 

Dunmore,  57,  58. 

Dupont,  190. 

Early,  184, 199,  203,  204. 
Elberon,  N.  J.,  240. 
Electric  lights  and  cars,  257. 
Ellsworth,  Oliver,  92. 
Embury,  42. 
Emerson,  241. 


INDEX. 


275- 


Emmett,  261. 
England,  8. 
Europe,  22. 
Eutaw  Springs,  82. 
Evolution,  244. 
Ewell,  191. 

Factions  confounded,  151. 

Fair  Oaks,  179. 

Farragut,  177,  178,  204. 

Federal  Constitution,  92. 

Federal  convention,  90. 

Federal  soldiers  honored,  198. 

Field,  Cyrus,  153. 

Fillniore,  151. 

Fires  in  the  North,  228,  232. 

Florida,  129,  145. 

Floyd,  176. 

Foote,  175. 

Ford's  Theater,  213. 

Fort  Sumter,  169. 

France,  12  24,  29,  34,  73,  75,  81, 

84,  85. 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  184. 
Franklin,  48,  49,  73,  92,  93. 
Frederick,  183. 
Fredericks  burg,  181. 
Fremont,  175,178. 
French  agent,  64,  67. 
French  officers,  87. 
French  Revolution,  100,  104. 
Fulton,  115. 

Gadsden,  54,  56. 

Gage,  49,  54,  56,  59. 

Gaines's  Mill,  179. 

G:irfield,  175,240. 

Garnet,  171. 

Garrettson,  F.,  106. 

Gates,  74,  75,  76,  81. 

Genet,  109. 

Goorgc  the  Third,  6,  16,  26,  HO, 

31,  35,  37,  39,  45,  48,  49, 55, 59, 

60,  64,  74,  89. 
Georgia,  14, 18,  58,  79. 
Georgians  banished,  202. 
Germantown.  75. 
Gettysburg,  186. 
Giddings,  169. 


Glendale,  175. 

Golden  Gate,  150. 

Goldsboro,  177. 

Goldsmith,  38. 

Goodson,  148. 

Gore,  95. 

Gorham,  95. 

Government,  167 

Grant,  175,  176,  189,  190,  196, 
198,  199,  201,  210,  212,  213, 
215,  231,  232,  257,  258. 

Gray,  38. 

Great  Kennesaw,  199. 

Greene,  71,  82,  83. 

Grenville,  10,  15. 

Gridley,63. 

Grundy,  Felix,  118. 

Guilford  C.  H.,  83. 

Guinea's  Station,  185. 

Gulf  Stream,  12. 

Hag.>r4own,  183. 

Halleck,  175. 

Hamilton,  86,  93,  104,  109,116, 

132,  161,  167,  233. 
Hampton,  209. 
Hancock,  John,  54,  60,  95. 
Hancock,  W.  S.,  188*  198,  258. 
Handel,  38. 
Hanover,  37. 
Hardee,  208. 
Harney,  174. 
Harper's  Ferry,  154,  183. 
Harrison,  Ben,  60. 
Harrison,  Ben  Jr ,  266,  268. 
H;irri-<on,  W.  H.  116,  121,  143. 
Hartford  convention,  121. 
Harvard,  13. 
Hatred  of  masters,  152. 
Ha\vl-y,  232. 
Hawthorne,  152. 
Hayne,  Gen.,  83. 
Hayne,  Senator,  138. 
Helena,  190. 
Henry,  Fort,  175. 
Henry  John,  116,  117, 123,  161. 
Henry  of  Navarre,  24. 
Henry,  Patrick,  17,  18,  56,  57, 

64,  97,  98,  167. 


276 


INDEX. 


Hill,  A.  P.,  184. 
Hoar,  263. 
Holmes,  190. 
Hood,  191,  203,  207. 
Hooker,  180, 184. 
Houston,  Samuel,  140. 
Howe,  70. 
Hudson,  Fort,  189. 
Hudson  River,  81. 
Hull,  118. 
Hull,  Hope,  106. 
Hall,  Isaac,  119. 
Hunter,  175, 199. 
Hunt,  Robert,  13,  43. 

Illinois,  129. 

Independence  Day,  68,  186. 

India,  23. 

Indians,  12,  105,  120,  125,  139, 

145. 

Indiana,  129. 
Iowa,  150. 
Italy,  24. 

Jackson,  Andrew,  125,  126, 128, 

134,  139,  151,  206. 
Jackson,  Miss.,  189. 
Jackson,  Stonewall,  178,  183, 

185, 188. 
Jalapa,  149. 
Jamestown,  11. 
Japan,  23. 

Jasper,  Sergeant,  81. 
Jay,  John,  56,  104,  110,  111. 
Jefferson,  Thoma«,    17,  56,  68, 

106,  109. 
Jessnp,  122. 

John  Street  Church.  39. 
Johnson,  Andrew,  207,218,226, 

227,  228. 

Johnson,  R.  M.,  121, 122. 
Johnson,  Samuel,  31,  38. 
Johnston,  A.  S.,  176. 
Johnston,  Joseph  E.,  172,  179, 

191,  200,  203,  209,  214. 
Jones,  119. 
Junius,  45. 

Kearney,  148. 


Kentucky,  114, 165. 
King,  Rulus,  95. 
Knox,  87, 104. 
Kosciusko,  74. 
Koszta,  153. 

Lafayette,  77, 84,  85,  87, 132. 

Laurens,  87. 

Lawrence,  190. 

Lee,  Charles,  67,  76, 77. 

Lee,  Jesse,  106. 

Lee,  L.  H.  Harry,  80,  83,  105, 

111. 

Lee,  R.  H.,  17,56,57,64,93. 
Lee,  Robert  E.,  149,  157,  182, 

183,  198,  199,  213. 
Legare,  140. 

Leopard  and  Chesapeake,  117. 
Lewis  &  Clarke,  115. 
Lexington,  Ky.,  184. 
Lexington,  Mass.,  59. 
Lexington,  Mo.,  174. 
Lincoln,  A.,  President,  165,  168, 

174,  214,  218,  219,  224. 
Lincoln,  General,  74,  81,87. 
Little  Rock,  190. 
Liverpool,  52. 
Livingston,  Chancellor,  20,  56, 

104. 

Livingston,  Edward,  138. 
Lodge,  265. 
London,  6. 
Longstm-t,  191. 
Lordlings,  49. 
Louisiana,  111,  197. 
Louisville,  77,  184. 
Lyon,  174. 

Macomh,  122. 
Mudison,  91,  93,  128. 
Magnetic  telegraph,  140. 
Maine,  18,  129. 
Malvern  Hill,  178. 
Manassas,  171. 
Mansfield,  Gen.,  180. 
Msmsfield,  Lord,  75. 
Marion,  83. 
Marshall,  113. 
Mason,  174. 


IXDEX. 


277 


Massachusetts,  95. 
McClellan,  171,  179,  180, 183. 
McClernand,  189. 
McHenry,  Foil,  122. 
Mclntosh,  177. 
McPherson,  190,  193,  200. 
Meade,  188,  232. 
Mechanicsville,  179. 
Mexico,  148. 
Michigan,  145. 
Mill  Spring,  175. 
Missouri,  129, 130. 
Mississippi,  129. 
Monmouth  battle,  77. 
Monroe,  128,  129,  133. 
Monterey,  147. 
Morgan, "Col.,  74,  82. 
Morgan,  John  11.,  193. 
Morris,  163. 
Morse,  140. 
Munfordsville,  184. 
Murfreesboro,  184. 

Nashville,  206. 

Natural  gas,  257. 

Napoleon,  111,  114, 130. 

Nebraska,  152. 

Negroes,  19. 

Nelson,  Gen.  176. 

Nelson,  Gov.,  87. 

Netherlands,  34. 

Tvewbern,  177. 

New  England,  13,  14,  24,  55,  59, 

66,  106;  clergy,  152. 
New  Orleans,  125,  177. 
New  Jersey,  69,  71,  74. 
New  York;  18, 104, 153 
Nimrod,  31. 
Nineveh,  62. 
Norfolk,  52,  59. 
North,  Lord,  50,  64. 
North  Carolina,  58,  65. 
Nullification,  138. 

Ocean  telegraph,  153. 
O'Hara,  87. 
Ohio,  114. 

Ordinance  of  1787, 156. 
Otis,  37. 


Palmerston,  174. 

Palo  Alto,  147. 

Paper  promises  paid  in   gold, 

238. 
Patriot     army,     3,000    strong, 

69. 

Peace  Congress,  165. 
Peaceful  statesmen,  1,  15. 
Peace  in  1815,  127. 
Peace  with  amnesty,  218. 
Peace  with  independence,  89. 
Pemberton,  190. 
Pennsylvania,  71. 
Perote,  149. 
Perry,  121, 122. 
Perry  ville,  184. 
Persia,  23. 
Petersburg,  203. 
Philadelphia,  51,  68,  88,  90. 
Philippi,  171. 
Phonography,  257. 
Pickens,  80,  83. 
Pierce,  Frank,  149, 152. 
Pike,  120. 

Pinckney,  93,  95,  111. 
Pittsburg,  232. 
Plymouth  Rock,  13, 14. 
Polk,  Gen.,  175, 191. 
Polk,  President,  146,  147,  150. 
Pope,  183. 
Port  Gibson,  189. 
Porter,  Commodore,  178. 
Porter,  Fitz  John,  180. 
Portugal,  139. 
Prescott,  63. 

President  and  Little  Belt,  117. 
Preston,  Capt.,  36. 
Price,  174. 
Princeton,  71. 
Proctor,  120. 
Prussia,  23,  24. 
Public  schools,  260. 
Pueblo,  149. 
Pulaski,  81. 

P;ilpit  politicians,  141,  152. 
Purse  and  sword,  202. 
Putnam,  98. 

Quantrell,  190. 


278 


INDEX. 


Randolph  &  Bland  sell  forty  ne 
groes,  59. 

Randolph,  Edward,  104. 

Randolph,  John,  140. 

Rawdon,  83. 

Raymond,  189. 

Republicanism  is  revolution  or 
ganized  at  work,  164. 

Resaca  de  la  Palma,  147. 

Retribution,  17,  21, 197, 209, 219, 
223,  224,  225. 

Richmond,  Ky.,  184. 

Richmond,  Va.,  21,  44,  56,  209, 
216. 

Ripley,  122. 

River  Thames,  119, 120, 121. 

Riverside  Park,  257. 

Roanoke  Island,  177. 

Robbery  by  law,  147. 

Rome,  62. 

Romney,  171. 

Rosecrans,  184, 191. 

Rouesean,  24. 

Rusk,  2(>6. 

Russia,  23, 115. 

Salem,  51. 

Saltillo,  149. 

San  Francisco,  150. 

San  Gabriel,  148. 

San  Jacinto,  139. 

Santa  Fe,  148. 

Saratoga,  73. 

Satan  at  Fredericksburg,  182. 

Satan's  call  to  war,  170. 

Satan's  grand  plot,  100, 101, 102, 
105, 110, 123, 125, 129, 130, 131, 
134, 137, 140, 141, 142, 152, 153, 
154, 155, 156, 157, 167, 169, 170, 
201. 

Satan's  great  storm  at  Rich 
mond,  98. 

Satan's  soliloquy,  21. 

Savannah,  79,  208. 

Scott,  122,  149,  175. 

Secession  claimed  as  a  right, 
162. 

Secession  unwise,  158. 

Sectional  hatred,  131. 


Settlers  of  States,  14, 15. 
Seward,  167,  174,  227,  232. 
Shelby,  Isaac,  121,  122. 
Shenandoah,  178. 
Sheridan,  201,  204,  212. 
Sherman,  Roger,  92. 
Sherman,  W.  T.,  176,  191,  199, 

200,  202,  203,  208,  215. 
Shiloh,  176. 
Sigel,  174, 199. 
Silver  demonetized,  538. 
Simpson,  Bishop,  232. 
Slade,  140. 

Slave  freed  by  Mansfield,  50. 
Slave  trade,  19,  50, 59,  08, 92, 95, 

186. 

Slidell,  174. 
SI  oat,  148. 
Smith,  John,  43. 
Smith,  E.  Kirby,  184. 
Smith,  Samuel,  122. 
South  Carolina,  58,  82. 
South  Carolina  Constitution,  95. 
Spain,  12,  89. 
Stain])  act,  8, 15,  26,  26. 
Stan  ton,  183, 227,  232. 
Stanton  and  Satan,  228. 
Stark,  73. 
Statesmanship  of  hate,  157, 165, 

167. 

St.  Glair,  74,  105. 
Steel,  190. 

Stevens,  A.  H.,  158, 160,  162. 
Stevens.  Thaddeus,  228. 
St.  John's  Church,  Richmond, 

Va.,  56. 
Stockton,  148. 
Strawbridge,  42. 
Stuart,  188. 
Sullivan,  59,  69,  71. 
Suniter,  Fort,  169. 
Surrender  of  R.  E.  Loe,  212. 
Swamp  angels,  190. 

Taney,  145,  261. 
Tariff,  90, 135,  139, 147, 266. 
Tarleton,  82,  83. 
Tax,   corporations,   syndicates, 
and  trusts,  234,  270. 


INDEX. 


279 


Taylor,  Z.,  147,  151. 

Tec-umseh,  120,140. 

Tecumseh,  White,  145,  202. 

Telephone,  257. 

Terry,  209. 

Texas,  129,139,150. 

Thames,  119. 

Thomas,  175,  184,  191,  193,  207, 

232. 

Tippecanoe,  115. 
Toronto,  120. 
Townshend,  27,  30,  34. 
Tracy,  266. 
Trade  dollars,  239. 
Trenton,  71. 
Trinity  Church,  18,  39. 
Tripoli,  128. 
Tunis,  128. 
Twiggs,  149. 
Tryon,  80. 
Tyler,  145. 

Vagabonds,  235. 

Valley  Forge,  76. 

Van  Buren,  138. 

Van  Rensalear,  145. 

Vandalism,  317,  318. 

Vanderbilt,  153. 

Vermont,  114. 

Versailles,  184. 

Virksburg,  189. 

Virginia's  benefactions,  196, 197, 
198;  conditions  on  acceding, 
90;  wrongs  predicted,  44,  98, 
100,  102;  heroism  predicted, 
44;  efforts  to  prevent  war, 
165, 197 ;  heroism  in  war,  172, 
197,  198;  destruction  of  ene 
mies,  181, 196;  hospitality,  14, 
197. 

Voltaire,  24. 

Walker,  R.  .T.,  147. 
Wallace,  Low,  170.199. 
War  Christianized,  150. 


War  with  left  hand,  122. 

Warlike  Christians,  118. 

Warren,  62,  124. 

Washington,  D.  C.,  111. 

Washington,  George,  17,  46,  50, 
57,  61,  64,  70,  71,  73,  76, 77, 87, 
89,  103,  104,  109,  113. 

Washington  Monument,  255. 

Washington,  William,  83. 

Wayne,  80,  111. 

Wealth:  all  lose  by  its  destruc 
tion,  233. 

Webster,  Daniel,  132,  138,  151, 
152. 

Wellington,  122. 

Welsh,  232 

Wesley,  Charles,  11,  38. 

Wesley,  John,  11,64. 

West,  38. 

Westminster  Abbey,  5. 

Whitefield,  40. 

Whittaker,  43. 

Whittier,  232. 

Wilkes,  Commodore,  174. 

Williams,  Paulding,  Van  Wert, 
82. 

Williamsbnrg,  16. 

Wilson's  Creek,  174. 

Winchester,  119. 

Winder,  120. 

Wmdom,  William,  266. 

Windsor  Castle,  27,  48,  49. 

AVinslow,  205. 

Wisconsin,  150. 

Wise,  140, 157. 

Wolfe,  43. 

Wool,  Gen.,  149. 

Worth,  149. 

Wyoming,  79. 

Wythe,  17. 

Yale,  13. 
Yorktown,  83. 

Zollicofier,  165. 


Servant  of  God  and  Guardian  of  mankind. 

(280) 


QUESTIONS. 

BOOK  FIRST. 
The  figures  refer  to  the  pages  upon  which  the  questions  are  answered. 

FROM  what  nation  did  our  States  spring?  Great  Britain. 
With  what  event  does  authentic  British  history  begin?  Julius 
Caesar's  conquest,  B.C.  55.  After  the  Romans  left  (A.D.  410), 
what  peoples  oppressed  Britain?  (6.)  With  what  results? 
What  change  had  taken  place  when  George  III.  reigned? 
What  city  is  the  British  capital?  (6.)  Where  do  the  British 
erect  monuments  to  distinguished  men?  (5.)  When  did  Co 
lumbus  discover  America?  October  11,  1492.  To  what  nation 
did  he  give  it?  Spain.  Who  first  landed  in  North  America? 
John  Cabot  and  his  son  Sebastian.  In  attempts  to  plant  col'>- 
nies,  what  Englishmen  failed?  Gilbert,  Raleigh, and  Grenville. 
Where  and  when  was  the  first  permanent  settlement  made? 
Jamestown,  Va.,  May  13,  1607.  Who  were  leaders?  Gosnold, 
Smith,  Rev.  Robert  Hunt,  Newport,  and  Wingfield.  By  whom 
were  they  assisted?  Lord  De  La  Ware,  Sir  Thomas  Gates,  and 
Sir  George  Somers.  What  did  they  take  to  Virginia?  Europe's 
highest  civilization.  What  became  of  mo?t  of  these  sons  of 
England's  nobility  and  gentry?  They  died  prematurely.  When 
the  survivors  became  inured  to  hardships  and  toil,  what  fol 
lowed?  (12.)  What  took  place  long  before  the  "Mayflower" 
left  Holland?  (13,  14.)  What  is  said  of  the  New  Englanders? 
(14.)  Of  colonists  of  other  States?  (14,  15.)  Of  a  nation  in 
embryo?  (8.)  Of  separation  from  Britain?  (8.)  Of  William  Pitt? 
(8.)  Of  George  III.?  (10.)  Of  Grenville's  Stamp  act?  (10.)  Of 
the  Western  Hemisphere?  (11,12.)  Of  the  Indians?  Of  the 
French?  Of  Spain?  (12.)  Of  the  Stamp  act  in  the  North? 
(15.)  Of  Virginia's  happy  condition?  (15,16.)  Of  the  House 
of  Burgesses,  May  1,  1765?  (16,  17.)  Of  the  Union?  (18.) 
Of  the  year  1765?  Of  Britain's  officers  in  New  York?  (18.)  Of. 
King  George.  (18,19.)  Of  the  Venal  Parliament?  (19.)  Of 
the  wealthy  nobles?  (19.)  Of  America's  friends?  (20.)  Of 
prominent  New  York  patriots?  (20.) 

BOOK  SECOND. 

WHAT  is  said  of  Britannia?  (22.)  Of  Europe?  Of  Asia?  Of 
Africa?  Of  the  slave  trade?  Of  Christian  mistresses?  Of  the 
Indians?  (22.)  Of  Japan?  Of  China?  Of  Persia?  Of  Tur 
key?  Of  Saracenic  chiefs  in  Hindostan?  Of  Clive  and  the 

(281) 


282  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

East  India  Company?  (23.),  Of  Catharine  of  Russia?  Of  Fred 
erick  of  Prussia?  (23.)  Of  Italy?  (24.)  Of  Austria?  Of  the 
pontiff?  Of  the  Kings  of  Spain  and  France?  Of  other  Eu 
ropean  States?  Of  Chois&eul  at  St.  Cloud,*  Rousseau,  and  Vol 
taire?  Of  subjects,  kings,  and  literati?  (24.)  Of  the  colonies? 
(25.)  What  prevented  war?  What  happy  results  of  peace? 
(25.)  What  was  King  George's  policy  in  March,  1766?  (26.) 
Who  was  made  Prime  Minister?  What  is  said  of  Pitt's  adminis 
tration?  (26.)  How  was  this  prevented?  (27.)  What  did 
King  George  trade  in?  (27.)  How  did  the  king's  empire  com 
pare  with  Satan's?  (27.)  Who  outwitted  Chatham?  (29.) 
What  use  did  the  king  make  of  Chatham  ?  What  effect  had  the 
repeal  of  the  Stamp  act?  What  effect  on  the  king  had 
Chatham's  illness?  (29.)  Who,  in  Chatham's  absence,  ruled 
the  Cabinet?  (30.)  What  did  he  propose  to  tax?  (30.)  What  is 
said  of  the  effect  of  this  taxation?  Of  a  gold  coin?  Of  the 
king's  pride?  Of  the  old  nobility?  (30.)  Of  England's  literati? 
(31.)  Of  music  in  Boston?  Of  the  military  tramp?  Of  peace 
ful  citizens?  Of  the  battle  of  Blenheim?  Of  the  people?  Of 
banded  sticks?  (32.)  Of  soldiers  at  New  York?  Of  the  indig 
nant  people?  Of  Samuel  Adams?  Of  the  tools  of  tyranny? 
OfDalrymple?  (32.)  Of  each  soldier?  (33.)  Of  bold  brava 
do?  Of  fruits  of  folly?  Of  victims  of  superstitions?  (33.)  Of 
Europe's  refusal  to  persecute  religionists?  (34.)  Of  Spanish 
executions  of  republicans  at  New  Orleans?  (34.)  Of  stupid 
weaklings  ruling  England?  Of  the  wisest  ruling  the  colonies? 
(34.)  Virginia's  Burgesres?  (34,  35.)  Of  the  king?  Of  the 
colonists?  Of  the  troops?  Of  the  peopk?  Of  Boston?  Of 
British  load?  Of  bright  moonbeams?  (35.)  Of  flowing  blood, 
March  5, 1770?  (36.)  Of  the  guilty?  Of  the  thoughtful  people? 
Of  the  rabble?  Of  tho?e  who  shot?  and  those  who  fell?  (36.) 
Of  Warren  and  Otis?  (37.)  Of  the  king  and  queen  when  their 
reign  began?  Of  old  abuses?  (37.)  Of  the  royal  children?  (38.) 
Of  virtue  and  decency?  Of  fine  arts?  Of  music?  Of  painting? 
Cf  poetry?  Of  discord?  Of  foreign  foc3?  (38.)  Of  Indians? 
(38,  39.)  Of  Asia's  sons?  Of  distant  lands  and  isles  of  every 
sea?  Of  the  present  time?  Of  unlawful  taxes?  (39.)  Of 
Whitfield?  (40.)  Of  Southern  seacoasts?  Of  the  hunters?  Of 
death  in  a  cabin?  Of  the  backwoods  funeral?  (40.)  Of  an 
Irishman  in  1760?  Of  his  name?  Of  two  families  of  Irish  in 
New  York?  (41.)  Of  their  names?  (42.)  Of  Capt.  Webb? 
(42.)  Of  Robert  Williams?  (43.)  Of  Francis  Asbury  ?  (43.) 

BOOK  THIRD. 

What  is  said  of  Virginia's  burgesses?  (44.)  Of  a  selfish 
world?  Of  possible  ingratitude?  Of  her  stalwart  sons?  (44.) 
Of  the  farmer's  letters?  (45.)  Of  the  letters  of  "Junius  "  and  their 

*  French  Prime  Minister. 


QUESTIONS.  283 

authorship?  (45,  46.)  Of  backwoods  burgesses?  (46.)  Of 
tea?  (46.)  To  what  places  was  it  sent?  (47.)  Ol'Hutchinson? 
Of  fifty  men  arrayed  as  Indians?  Of  Griffin's  wharf?  (47.)  Of 
the  war  whoop?  (48.)  What  caused  the  privy  council  to  meet 
January  11,  1874?  (48.)  What  is  said  of  the  king's  ministers? 
Of  Franklin?  Of  these  highborn  dignitaries?  Of  Wedder- 
burne?  (48.)  Of  the  king's  command?  (49.)  Of  rudest  wrath- 
fulness?  Of  insanity?  Of  peace?  Of  Gen.  Gage?  (49.)  Of 
Lord  Mansfield?  (50.)  Of  Parliament  and  king?  Of  Virginia? 
Of  the  Boston  Port  bill?  Of  Boston's  population?  (50.)  Of  hang 
ing?  (50.)  Of  signs  of  mourning  in  Philadelphia,  June  1, 1774? 
(51.)  Of  Virginia?  Of  the  Southern  colonies?  (51.)  Of  New 
England's  gratitude  to  the  South?  (52.)  Of  the  Congress  of 
October  25,  1774?  (52,53.)  Of  the  British  yoke?  Why  not 
cast  off?  (53,54.)  What  is  said  of  Boston's  families?  (54.)  Of 
Gadsden  of  Carolina?  (54.)  What  ought  all  time  to  witness? 
What  ought  to  be  household  words  in  Boston?  What  is  said 
of  Gen.  Gage?  (54.)  Of  his  pledge  to  the  king?  (55.)  Of  the 
wall  that  inclosed  him  ?  Of  the  escape  by  sea?  Of  the  peaceful 
counsels?  Of  more  troops?  While  helpless,  what  does  he  see 
brave  Virginians  do?  To  whom  had  the  king  given  their  terri 
tory  northwest  of  the  Ohio?  (55.)  What  Congressmen  are 
named?  (56.)  What  is  said  of  the  dawn  of  independence?  Of 
Franklin?  Of  royal  governors?  Of  breezes  from  the  North? 
(56.)  Of  Virginia's  military  plan?  (56,  57.)  Of  Dunmore's 
threats?  Of  driving  him  to  his  ships?  (57.)  Of  Georgia?  (58.) 
Of  South  Carolina?  Of  North  Carolina?  Of  a  triumphal  march? 
(58.)  Of  the  braggart  governor?  (58,59.)  Of  Norfolk?  (59.) 
Of  last  official  acts?  Of  Randolph  and  Bland?  Of  Paul  Revere? 
OfSulliyan?  OfPitcairn?  (59.)  Of  his  order?  (60.)  Of  Amer 
icans  killed  and  wounded?  Of  boasting  Britons?  How  did 
they  take  ammunition?  What  two  patriots  were  they  ordered 
to  arrest?  What  is  said  of  the  Congress  of  June  15,  1775?  (60.) 
What  did  Virginia  tell  King  George  when  Harrison  nominated 
Hancock  for  President  of  Congress?  (60,  61.)  What  is  said  of 
John  Adams?  (61.)  What  is  said  of  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill,  June  17, 1775?  Of  its  effect  on  England?  (61.)  Of  the 
fire  in  Charlestown?  (62.)  Of  wealth  and  war?  Of  wraith  in 
ancient  nations?  Of  Warren?  Ticonderoga?  (62.)  Of  Crown 
Point?  (63.)  Of  Ethan  Allen?  OfPrescott?  OfGridley?  Of 
Putnam?  Who  reviewed  the  American  army  July  10,  1775? 
(63.)  What  is  said  of  England?  (64.)  Of  Lord  North?  Of 
Wesley?  Of  London?  Of  the  crazed  king?  Of  independence? 
Of  a  French  agent?  (64.)  Of  Carolinians?  (65.)  Of  Fort 
Monltrie?  Of  Lord  Campbell?  Of  Montgomery?  Of  Canadian 
hearts?  (65.)  Of  Washington's  army?  (66.)  Of  what  he 
lacked?  Of  Dorchester  Heights?  Of  Boston  set  free?  Of  the 
army's  hope?  Of  Washington's  knowledge?  (66.)  Of  the  ene 
my's  numbers?  (67.)  Of  the  French  jealousy  of  Britain?  Of 
Virginia  and  the  South?  Of  New  England?  Of  the  Middle 


284  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

States?  (67.)  Of  the  declaration  worded  to  suit  Georgia,  tho 
Carolina^,  and  New  England  on  slavery?  (68.)  Who  eloquent 
ly  advocated  independence?  When  was  independence  de 
clared?  (68.) 

BOOK  FOURTH. 

To  whom  was  December  25,  1776,  a  sad  Christmas?  Why? 
(69.)  With  how  many  did  Washington  escape  across  the  Dela 
ware?  What  is  said  of  Charles  Lee?  Of  Sullivan?  Of  Con 
gress?  (69.)  Of  the  country?  (70.)  Of  Ceesarand  Monk?  Of 
an  ice  bridge?  Of  Cornwallis?  Of  Howe?  Of  allies  and  help 
ers  of  Washington?  (70,  71.)  Of  the  noise  of  battle  December 
2-3,1776?  (71.)  Of  hated  Hessians?  OfRahl?  Of  Trenton's 
garrison?  What  did  Americans  fight  before  they  fought  the 
Hessians?  What  was  the  effect  of  the  victory?  How  many 
did  the  enemy  lose  ?  What  is  said  of  the  great  chief?  Of  Corn 
wallis?  (71.)  Of  Princeton  troops?  (72.)  Of  Princeton's 
classic  ground?  Of  January  4,  1777?  Of  the  British  army? 
(72.)  Of  thousands  surprised  in  Princeton?  Of  raw  recruits? 
Of  Mercer  and  valiant  veterans?  Who  fell?  What  voice  rung 
out  upon  the  air?  (72.)  What  of  the  morning  breeze?  (73.) 
What  is  said  of  Saratoga,  October  17,  1777?  (73.)  Of  Bur- 
goyne?  Of  John  Stark?  Of  two  recent  battles?  Who  surren 
dered  with  Burgoyne?  What  was  taken  besides  captives? 
What  will  be  the  effect?  (73.)  Why  not  peace?  (74.)  What 
of  Trenton  and  Princeton?  (75.)  Of  ships  up  the  Chesapeake? 
Of  Brandywine?  Of  Germantown?  Of  Howe?  Of  Valley 
Forge?  What  came  with  spring?  What  way  did  Howe  seek 
safety?  Who  were  victims  of  vice?  (75,  76.)  To  supplant 
Washington  what  was  done?  (76.)  Was  it  accomplished? 
What  sound  was  heard  near  Monmouth,  N.  J.,  June  21,  1778? 
(76.)  Who  came  retreating?  (77.)  Who  met  them?  What 
did  he  say  to  Charles  Lee?  How  did  Lee  reply?  Who  followed 
Washington?  With  what  result?  What  is  said  of  the  falls  of 
the  Ohio?  (77.)  Who  came  from  afar  July  30,  1778?  (78.) 
Why  had  Virginia  sent  them  forth  ?  What  had  she  done  when 
France  intruded  ?  What  when  King  George  gave  her  territory 
to  the  Canadians?  What  had  those  men  taken  from  Groat 
Britain?  (78.)  Who  led  these  Kentucky  Virginians?  (79.) 
What  five  States  Occupy  that  ground?  (79.)  What  is  said  of 
the  French  and  English  fleets?  How  many  French  were  at  Sa 
vannah  October  8,  1779?  How  many  Carolinians?  What  is 
said  of  the  Butler.s?  Of  the  torch?  Of  the  Parliament?  Of 
Piggot?  Of  Wayne?  Of  Maj.  Lee?  OfPickens?  OfPrevost? 
Of  Campbell?  (80.)  OfPulaski?  (81.)  Of  Lincoln?  Of  Jas 
per?  Of  D'Estaing?  Of  the  fort?  Of  mammon  and  covetous- 
ness?  (81,  82.)  Of  Arnold  and  Andre?  Of  the  captors  of  An 
dre?  Of  Arnold  and  fire  fiends?  Of  Tarleton?  (82,  83.)  Of 
William  Washington?  (83.)  Of  Cornwallis?  Of  Greene? 
Of  Gen.  Hayne?  'Of  the  fight  at  Eutaw  Springs  September  18, 


QUESTIONS.  285 

1781.  (83.)  Who  and  what  were  vanquished  at  Yorktown, 
Va.,  October  19,  1781?  (84.)  What  is  said  of  French  help? 
Of  Savannah  and  Newport?  Of  West  Point?  Of  ragged  troops? 
Of  generous  Philadelphians?  (84,85.)  Of  a  French  Loan?  Of 
New  York?  Of  Cornwallis?  (85,  86.)  Of  Lafayette?  (86.) 
Of  Clinton?  Of  Americans  and  French?  Of  French  fleets? 
Of  Hamilton  and  Lafayette?  What  did  Virginia  see?  (86.) 
What  is  said  of  prisoners?  (87.)  Of  guns,  etc.?  Of  O'Hara? 
Of  Cornwallis?  Of  the  victors?  (87.)  Of  a  messenger  from 
Yorktown  in  Philadelphia  October  23,  1781?  (88.)  What  was 
•  the  effect  of  his  news?  What  is  said  of  the  Congress?  (88.) 
Of  our  newborn  nation,  December  26,  1783?  (89.)  Of  its  free 
dom?  Of  peace?  Of  heroes  of  independence?  Of  Washing 
ton?  Of  what  he  gave?  (89.) 

BOOK  FIFTH. 

What  is  said  of  the  Federal  Convention  August  15, 1787  ?  (90.) 
Of  a  perfect  union?  Of  a  small  tax?  Of  fcelftshness?  Of  small 
States?  Of  large?  Of  the  rich  South?  Of  the  poor  North?  Of 
slaves?  Of  State  sovereignty?  (90.)  Of  Charles  Pinckney? 
(90.)  Of  Mason  and  Lee?  (91.)  Of  Ames?  (91.)  Of  Ruiua 
King?  Of  Hamilton?  (91.)  Of  Franklin?  (92.)  Of  Sherman 
and  Ellsworth?  (92.)  Of  slaves?  Of  New  England,  Georgia, 
and  the  Carolinas?  (92.)  Of  strong  government?  Of  friends 
of  civil  liberty?  (92.)  Of  God?  (93.)  Do  swindling  statesmen 
cost  less  than  honest  soldiers?  Was  the  Constitution  to  be  rati 
fied  or  rejected  by  the  States?  (93.)  What  States  had  not  ratified 
June  24,  1788?  (94.)  What  is  said  of  Massachusetts  ?  (94,95.) 
Of  South  Carolina?  (95, 96.)  What  did  Virginia  claim  if  she 
acceded?  What  is  said  of  despots?  Of  majorities?  Offeree? 
Of  a  mighty  tribunate  to  forbid  selfishness  and  prevent  war 
between  States?  (96,  97.)  Of  Henry's  oratory ?f  (98.)  Of  an 
gels  bemoaning  Virginia's  destiny?  Of  a  storm  to  interfere 
with  Henry's  effort?  (98.)  To  what  is  creation  subject?  (99.) 
What  is  said  of  the  new  government?  (99,  100.)  Of  fiendish 
hatred?  (100.)  Of  Western  gales  of  liberty?  Of  the  French? 
Of  wars  between  Americans  predicted?  Of  their  effect?  What 
i*  said  of  the  States?  (101.)  Of  the  federal  sovereignty?  (101, 
102.)  What  did  the  States  put  into  its  hands?  What  would 
result  from  clashing  interests?  Of  upstart  insolence?  Of  fanat 
ic  faction?  (102.)  Of  Satan's  boast?  (102,103.)  Of  Adam  and 
Eve?  Of  Cain  and  Abel?  Of  antediluvians  ?  Of  heirs  of 
Noah?  Of  ancient  cities  and  nations?  (103,  104.)  Of  this 
newest  of  the  nations?  (104^  Of  the  inauguration  of  the  new 
administration?  Of  the  Book  of  God?  Of  France?  (104.)  Of 
the  savages?  (105.)  Of  rum  and  whisky?  Of  political  strife  ? 
Of  Hamilton?  Of  Jefferson?  (105.)  Of  strifes  of  Europe  here? 
(106.)  Of  Boston  common  July  9,  1792?  (106.)  Who  were 
those  horsemen ?  What  did  they  bring?  Why  had  New  En- 


236  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

gland  picked  up  cast-off  heresies  of  other  lands?  (107.)  What 
better  way  to  obtain  relief  from  Calvinism  did  these  men  of  the 
South  bring?  (108.)  How  many  converts  had  Lee  gained  in 
two  years?  What  is  said  of  reluctant  Boston?  What  of  ten 
thousand  such  ?  (108.)  Of  young  American?  Of  Jeflerson. 
and  Hamilton  ?  Of  the  people  ?  Of  the  sword  of  Washington  ? 
Of  Fiance  ?  Of  Britain?  Of  Genet,  the  French  Minister  ?  Of 
Jay?  Of  Jay's  treaty?  (109.)  Of  Eastern  men  lavoied  by  an 
Eastern  man?  Of  Southern  men  robbed  of  slaves?  Of  the 
British  lion?  (110.)  What  news  had  arrived  at  Washington, 
D.  C.,  June  1, 1803  ?  (111.)  What  is  said  of  the  States  ?  Of  the 
frontier  men  ?  Of  trade?  Of  the  Indians?  Of  whisky  fiends? 
Of  France?  Of  Pinckney?  Of  the  waves?  Of  the  French 
change  of  rulers?  (111.)  Of  fears  of  the  people?  Of  how  hap 
pily  proved  unfounded  ?  What  is  said  of  Jefferson  and  Mar 
shall?  (113,114.)  Of  growth  in  wealth  ?  In  population?  Of 
new  States?  (114.) 

BOOK  SIXTH. 

WHAT  would  follow  the  continued  rule  of  sober,  upright  men? 
(115.)  What  is  said  of  Lewis  and  Clark?  Of  Fulton?  (115.) 
Of  pirates?  (116.)  Of  Indians?  Of  Burr?  Of  Hamilton? 
Of  Harrison?  Of  Britain's  lords  of  trade?  Of  Frenchmen? 
Of  ships  in  their  own  ports?  Of  the  embargo?  Of  New  En 
gland?  Of  John  Henry?  Of  Craig?  (116.)  Of  ships  of  neu 
tral  nations?  (117.)  Of  the  Englit-h  language?  Of  the  six 
thousand  Americans  kidnapped?  Of  the  "Leopard"  and 
"  Chesapeake?  "  Of  nonintercourse?  Of  the  "  Little  Belt "  and 
"  President?  "  What  else  was  done  to  provoke  war?  Did  John 
Henry  prove  to  Madison  that  New  England's  factions  had  ne 
gotiated  for  annexations  to  Canada?  What  of  idle  throngs  in 
seaports?  What  of  the  woodsmen  of  the  West?  What  of  the 
young  statesmen?  (117,  118.)  In  what  did  the  Christian  na 
tions  agree  on  December  25, 1812?  (118.)  Whatdid  they  make 
the  world?  What  is  said  of  all  soils?  Of  Protestants?  Of  an- 
grv  millions  here?  Of  bold  statesmen?  What  nation  did  they 
strike?  Had  they  prepared  for  war?  What  is  said  of  Hull? 
Of  the  Northwest?  (118.)  Of  Van  Rensselaer?  (118,  119.) 
Of  New  York's  militia?  Of  one  Smyth?  Of  naval  heroes  ?  Of 
Winchester?  OfProctor?  (119.)  OfDudley?  (120.)  OfChaun- 
cey?  Of  Dearborn?  Of  Pike?  Of  Winder  and  Chandler?  Of 
Lawrence?  Of  naval  warfare  on  shore?  At  the  battle  of  the 
Thames  (October  5, 1813)  who  fled  ?  What,  is  said  of  the  British 
regulars?  Of  Kentucky  horsemen?  Of  Teoumseh  ?  Of  the 
Indians?  (120.)  Of  Isaac  Shelby^  (121.)  Of  Harrison?  Of 
Croo-han?  Of  Johnson?  Of  Perry?  Of  children  of  the  West .? 
(121.)  What  issaidofChippewa?  (122.)  Of  Lundy's  Lane?  Of 
distinguished  generals  ?  Of  the  siege  of  Fort  Erie  ?  Of  Prevost 
and  Downie?  Of  Plattsburg  and  Lake  Champlain  ?  Of  Mc- 
Donough  and  Macomb  ?  Of  Ross  at  Washington  ?  Of  Sin ith  at 


QUESTIONS.  287 

North  Point,  neat  Baltimore?  Of  Fort  McHenry?  Of  the 
star-spangled  banner  ?  (122.)  What  of  the  times  when  Adams 
ruled?  What  did  New  England  know  her  sons  to  be?  Why 
did  she  lose  patience  ?  What  was  too  bad  to  endure  ?  When 
Louisiana  was  bought,  what  did  a  faction  say  ?  When  did  the 
faction  demand  war?  What  did  those  she  called  imbeciles 
adopt  ?  When  the  embargo  ruined  trade,  to  whom  did  they  lis 
ten?  (123.)  What  was  proposed?  (124.)  Where?  What  is 
said  of  John  Adams  ?  Of  the  law  ?  When  war  was  declared 
according  to  their  wish,  how  did  they  act?  Did  they  hastily 
secede?  Why?  What  would  they  do?  What  would  they 
claim  ?  What  would  they  call  what  others  call  robbery.  (124.) 
What  is  said  of  the  Hartford  conventionists  ?  (125.)  What  of 
New  England?  What  is  said  of  Andrew  Jackson  at  Fort 
Minis?  (125.)  At  Fort  Bowyer?  In  Spanish  Florida?  At 
New  Orleans?  Of  Napoleon's  conquerors?  Of  Pakenham, 
Gibbs,  and  Keen?  Of  Lambert?  Of  the  loss  of  Americans? 
Of  the  loss  of  British  ?  Of  the  truce?  (126.)  What  was  gained 
by  the  Americans  ?  (127.)  By  the  British  ?  What  is  said  of  a 
court  to  prevent  war?  (127,  128.)  Of  Judge  Hall,  who  fined 
Jackson  for  contempt  of  court  in  enforcing  martial  law?  Of 
Jackson?  Of  his  submission  to  a  civil  court?  Of  Decatur? 
Of  the  pirates  ?  Of  the  exiles  ?  (128.)  Of  the  Greeks  ?  (129.) 
Of  Spain?  Of  France?  Of  Liberia?  Of  Jackson?  Of  Texas? 
Of  sectional  politics?  Of  Monroe?  Of  the  next  President?  Of 
States  added  to  the  Union ?  Of  Missouri?  Of  her  right?  (129.) 
Of  sectional  jealousy  ?  (130.)  Of  supercilious  piety  ?  Of  what 
the  States  gave  the  Congress?  Of  the  wish  of  many?  Of  the 
compromise  line  ?  Of  coequal  citizens  and  States  ?  "Of  French 
residents?  Of  King  majority  ?  (130.)  Of  purblind  statesman 
ship?  (131.)  Of  the  slave  trade?  Of  foreign  tonnage?  Of 
masters?  Of  slaves?  Of  flames  of  hatred  ?  (131.)  Of  Bunker 
Hill,  June  17, 1825  ?  (132.)  Of  Daniel  Webster?  Of  Lafayette  ? 
Of  gratitude?  Of  the  new  republics?  (132.)  Of  the  "Mon 
roe  Doctrine  ?  "  Of  the  "  Brandy  wine?  "  (133.) 

BOOK  SEVENTH. 

WHAT  is  said  of  Jackson's  inauguration,  March  4, 1829?  (134.) 
Of  the  factory  lords?  (134.)  Of  the  wives  of  Jackson's  cabinet? 
(135.)  OfVanBuren,  the  widower  of  Kinderhook?  (135J  Of 
J.  C.  Calhoun,  the  Vice-president?  (136.)  Of  the  President? 
Of  sectional  parties?  (136.)  Of  Jefferson  and  Adams?  (137.) 
Of  railroad  cars?  (138.)  Of  the  cabinet?  Of  Van  Buren,  March 
4,  1833?  Of  the  manufacturers  ?  Of  the  fiery  South?  Of  the 
Force  bill?  OfHayne?  Of  Webster  and  Calhoun?  Of  Living 
ston?  (138.)  Of  twenty  years?  (139.)  Of  Carolinians?  Of 
Clay?  Of  Calhoun?  Of  Jackson?  Of  Austin?  Of  the  Ala 
mo,  where  Texans  were  butchered?  Of  the  cholera?  (139.) 
Of  Black  Hawk?  Of  France?  Of  Portugal?  Of  New  York? 


288  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Of  politicians?  Of  death?  (140.)  -  Of  Monroe?  Of  the  issue 
of  the  battle  at  San  Jacinto,  Tex.,  April,  1836?  Of  Sam  Houston? 
Of  Santa  Ana?  Of  Slade  of  Vermont?  Of  threescore  Con 
gressmen?  Of  Southern  Congressmen?  Of  British  emissa 
ries?  Of  poets?  Of  smartlings?  (140,  141.)  Of  hireling  lec 
turers?  (141.)  Of  pulpit  politicians?  Of  contracts  of  their 
sires?  Of  the  British?  Of  the  capital?  Of  fair  bargains? 
(141.)  Of  one  honest  way  ?  (141.)  Of  covenant  breaking?  Of 
brazen  impudence?  Of  the  great  name  of  Christ?  (142.)  Of 
Clay?  (143.)  Of  petitions  less  frequent.  Why?  Of  self-love 
and  self-conceit?  Of  change  of  rulers?  OfVanBuren?  Of  Har 
rison?  Of  Tyler?  (143.)  Of  Michigan?  Of  Arkansas?  Of 
Seminoles?  Of  Cherokees?  Of  retribution?  (145.)  Of  the  \ 
magnetic  telegraph,  May  29, 1844?  (145.)  Of  all  nations  neigh 
bors?  Of  Morse,  the  benefactor?  Of  the  manufacturer's  pocket- 
nerve?  (146.)  Of  what  they  plead?  (147.)  Of  protected 
wealth  when  war  shall  hold  millions  by  the  throat?  Of  Tay 
lor's  troops  at  Palo  Alto?  Of  Resaca  de  la  Pahna?  Of  Monte 
rey?  Of  Buena  Vista,  February  23,  1847?  Of  Zat-hary  Taylor? 
Of  Jefferson  Davis?  (147.)  Of  Mississippians?  (147,  148.) 
Of  officers?  Of  Jacob  Goodson?  (148.)  Of  Clay,  McKee,  and 
hundreds  of  brave  men?  Of  entering  their  foe's  capital?  Of 
Bibles?  Of  Fremont,  Stockton,  and  Sloat?  Of  Kearney?  (148.) 
Of  Doniphan?  (149.)  Of  Vera  Cruz?  Of  Twiggs?  Of  Santa 
Ana?  Of  West  Point  officers?  Name  some  of  the  generals. 
(149.)  What  is  said  of  President  Polk?  (150.)  Of  Texas?  Of 
war?  Peace  brought  what?  Of  the  British  treaty?  OfStatesad- 
mitted?  OfSmithson?  (150.)  Of  Jackson  and  Adams?  (151.) 
Of  Clay's  compromise?  Of  honored  names?  Since  Clay's  com 
promise  what  has  been  threatened?  (151.)  What  is  said  of 
sectional  hatred?  (152.)  Of  New  England's  clergy?  Of  self- 
government?  Of  Nebraska?  What  did  the  clergy  want?  What 
i^  said  of  the  South?  (152.)  What  is  said  of  the  ocean  telegraph  ? 
(153.)  Of  Crystal  Palace?  Of  Perry?  Oflneram?  Of  Field?  Of 
John  Brown  at  Harper's  Ferry,  1859?  Of  Brown's  guilt  without 
his  bravery?  (153.)  Of  not  one  man  in  twenty  thirsts  for  blood? 
(155.)  Of  halls  of  Congress?  Of  the  multitudes?  (155.)  Of  a 
thousand  mad  men?  (156.)  Of  the  ordinance  of  1787  shutting 
slavery  out  of  the  States  of  Illinois,  Indiana,  Ohio,  Michigan, 
and  Wisconsin?  Was  it  lawful?  Of  the  Missouri  compromise  ? 
Did  the  North  abide  by  it?  (156.)  What  did  the  faction  want? 
(157.)  Had  the  most  guilty  been  caught  when  Brown  was 
hung?  (157.) 

BOOK  EIGHTH. 

WHAT  is  said  of  a  jjreat  State  leaving  the  Union?  (158.)  Of 
twelve  more?  Was  it  wise  to  dissolve  the  Union?  (158-160.) 
Who  have  thought  disunion  a  State  right?  (160.)  What  is  said 
of  the  West?  Of  the  East?  Of  the  North  for  sixty  years  ?  To  a 
ruling  faction  of  the  North  what  did  the  Constitution  seem?  What 


QUESTIONS.  289 

did  their  statesmen  say?  (161.)  What  said  the  men  who  made 
the  Constitution?  Fur  whut  has  the  Federal  government  troops? 
(102.)  What  would  war  on  a  State  be?  What  did  Morris  and 
Hamilton  say  the  Federal  government  would  do?  What  would 
result  from  such  base  action?  (163.)  Can  the  States  be  held 
together  without  force?  (103, 104.)  What  is  said  of  the  faction 
that  claimed  the  right  to  rule?  What  of  the  wickedness  of  the 
Northern  and  Southern  factions?  (164.)  If  the  Northern  fac 
tion  wished  to  free  slaves,  what  was  the  honest  way?  (104.) 
If  to  fight  to  free  slaves,  how  could  they  do  it  without  violating 
plighted  faith?  (165.)  What  is  said  of  the  faction  holding 
power?  Of  Virginia  and  Kentucky?  Of  the  faction  holding 
the  purse  and  sword?  Of  the  kindly  heart  of  the  new  President? 
(165.)  Of  his  fierce  folio  were?  Of  the  least  furious  of  them?  How 
did  they  regard  Pinckney, Gadsden,  or  Washington ?  What  was 
done  by  sober  Southerners?  What  was  necessary  to  preserve 
the  ruling  faction?  (166,  107.)  What  fatal  defect  characterized 
the  Federal  government?  (168.)  How  were  citizens  made  trai 
tors  in  spite  of  true  fidelity  to  both  State  and  Federal  govern 
ments?  (108.)  What  is  said  of  the  President?  How  would 
war  begin?  (168.)  What  had  been  the  boasts  of  North  and 
South?  What  would  follow  on  firing  on  the  flag?  (169.)  Who 
commanded  in  the  attack  on  Fort  Sumter,  April  12, 1861?  (171.) 
Who  surrendered?  What  is  said  of  Baltimore?  Of  Bethel? 
Of  Philippi?  Of  Romney?  Of  Garnet?  Of  Rich  Mountain? 
Of  Cheat  River?  Of  West  Pointers?  Of  men  in  gray?  (171.) 
Of  troops  from  the  West?  Of  the  panic-stricken?  Of  Northern 
policy?  Of  Southern  policy?  (172.)  Of  folly's  most  absurd 
desire?  (173.)  Of  one  live  yankee?  Of  the  South's  lost  oppor 
tunity?  (173.)  Of  Wilkes?  (173.)  Of  Palmer-ton?  (174.) 
Of  the  lion  in  his  lair?  Of  Missouri?  Of  Jackson?  Of  Price? 
Of  Harney?  Of  Lyon?  Of  Sigel?  Of  Boonville?  Of  Car 
thage?  Of  Wilson's  Creek?  Of  Lyon  slain?  Of  McCullough? 
(174.)  Of  Mulligan?  (174,175.)  Of  Fremont?  (175.)  Of  Hun 
ter?  OfHalleck?  Of  Grant?  Of  Polk?  Of  Baker?  Of  can 
nons  made  of  wood?  OfMcClellan?  Of  four  hundred  thousand 
men?  OfGarfield?  Of  Marshall?  Of  Thomas?  Of  Zollicof- 
fer?  OfCrittenden?  Of  Fort  Henry?  Of  Fort  Donelson?  Of 
Grant?  Of  Foote?  (175.)  Of  Pillow  and  Floyd?  (176.)  Of 
Buckner?  Of  Kentucky?  Of  Tennessee?  Of 'Shiloh,  April  7, 
1802?  Of  Grant?  Of  Albert  Sidney  Johnston?  OfBuell?  (176.) 
Of  Porter  and  Farragut  at  New  Orleans,  April  26,  1862?  (177.) 
Of  Jackson's  statue  and  Ben  Butler?  Of  McCullough,  Mcln- 
tosh,  and  Pike  at  Pea  Ridge?  Of  Curtis?  Of  the  dead?  Of  > 
Burnside  and  Goldsboro?  Of  Pope?  (177.)  Of  bombardment 
of  the  forts?  (178.)  Of  to  rapture?  Of  stealing?  (178.)  Of 
Farragut?  Of  Porter?  Of  the  Shenandoah  conflicts?  Of  Jack 
son?  (178.)  Of  McClellan's  strategy?  (179.)  Of  his  battles? 
Of  Southern  strategy?  (179.)  Of  earth  walls?  Of  Northern 
heroes?  (180.)  When  was  the  ironclad,  "  Virginia,"  sent  to 
19 


290  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Hampton  Roads?  March  8,  1862.  What  did  she  destroy? 
What  did  Virginia  suffer  for  the  lack  of?  When  and  where  did 
the  first  steamboat  move  against  a  current?  When  and  where 
was  natural  gas  first  used?  Where  did  McCormick  invent  the 
reaper?  What  caused  the  loss  or  inefficiency  of  Confederate 
ironclads?  (180.) 

BOOK  NINTH. 

WHAT  is  said  of  Fredericksbnrg,  December  15, 1862?  (181.) 
Of  virtues  become  vices?  Of  West  Point?  Of  courage?  Of 
wealth?  (181.)  Of  Cedar  Mountain?  (183.)  Of  Manassas? 
Of  Centerville?  OfChantilly?  Of  Pope?  Of  trembling  Wash 
ington?  Of  Frederick,  Md.?  Of  Hagerstown?  Of  Harper's 
Ferry?  Of  Antietam?  Of  sharp  steel  pens?  Of  McClellan  s 
head?  OfBurnside?  (183.)  Of  Murfreesboro,  Tenn.,  Janua;y 
3,  1863?  (184.)  Of  Rosecrans?  Of  artillery?  Of  Kentucky? 
Of  Kirby  Smith?  Of  Manson?  Of  Kentucky  towns?  Of  Per- 
ryville?  Of  Bragg?  Of  precious  stores?  Of  luka?  Of  Van 
Dorn  and  Price?  Of  Sherman?  (184.)  Of  Hooker?  (184.)  Of 
Lee?  Of  Jackson?  (185.)  What  is  said  of  July  4, 1776?  (186.) 
Of  July  4,  1863,  at  Gettysburg?  (186.)  Of  Vicksbnrg?  (186, 
187.)  What  was  claimed?  (187.)  What  id  said  of  prayers? 
(188.)  Of  with  the  Lord?  Of  going  to  Stonewall  Jackson?  Of 
going  to  John  Brown?  Of  politicians?  Of  Lee,  Meade,  and 
other  soldiers?  (188.)  Of  desperate  valor  at  Vicksburg?  (185).) 
Of  Arkansas  Post?  Of  passing  the  forts?  Of  Port  Gibson?  Of 
Grand  Gulf?  Of  Jackson,  Raymond,  Champion  Hills,  Black 
River  bridge?  Of  Pemberton?  Of  Grant's  a-sault?  Of  thirty 
thousand  starving  men?  (189.)  Of  the  commerce  of  the  West? 
Of  a  wall  of  waters?  Of  flag  of  truce?  (189.)  Of  Charleston, 
S.  C.?  (190.)  Of  Dupont?  Of  Dahlgren  and  Gilmore?  Of 
swamp  angels?  Of  Holmes  at  Helena?  Of  Steele  at  Little 
Rock?  Of  Lawrence,  Kan.?  OfQuantrell?  (190.)  Of  Longstreet? 
(191.)  Of  Thomas?  Of  Virginia  blood?  Of  Rosecrans?  Of 
Hooker?  Of  Sherman?  Of  Grant?  OfSouthernhen.es?  Of 
Chickarnauga,  September  20, 1863?  (191.)  Of  Bragg  giving  no 
tice?  What  is  said  of  the  fight  above  the  clouds?  (191,  192.) 
Of  the  second  fight  on  Mission  Ridge?  (193.)  Of  the  loss  of 
Tennessee  by  the  South?  (193.)  Of  John  Morgan  at  Covington, 
Ky.,  November  20, 1863?  (193.)  Of  his  character?  Of  his  bad 
treatment?  Of  his  enemies  disgracing  themselves?  Of  his  es 
cape?  (194.)  Of  three  armies?  Of  Banks?  Of  "Rough  and 
Ready's  "son?  Of  Gen.  Richard  Taylor?  (194.)  Of  "no  generals 
to  hurt?"  (195.)  Of  the  two  B's.?  of  their  native  land?  Of 
its  poets?  Of  its  pulpits?  Of  transcendentalists?  Of  its  really 
great  men?  (195.)  Of  the  lasting  glory  of  that  famous  land? 
(196.)  Of  Grant's  losses?  (196.)  Of  brave  men  dying  to  defend 
cowards?  Of  Federal  force  making  war  on  States?  What  was 
it?  Striking  Virginia  was  what?  (196,  197.)  What  had  she 
given  the  Union?  (197.)  How  did  her  sons  fight?  How  treat 


QUESTIONS.  291 

their  enemies?  (197.)  Of  her  sons  a  living  wall?  (198.)  While 
she  fought  a  world  in  arms,  whom  did  her  enemies  call  on  to 
save  them?  Of  grand,  brave  men  in  Northern  armies?  Why 
in  Virginia  should  they  wear  laurels  soaked  in  blood?  (198.) 
What  is  said  of  Lee?  Of  Johnston?  (198.)  Of  the  battles  north 
of  Richmond?  (199.)  Of  the  cadets  and  Sigel?  Of  Hunter 
and  Early?  Of  Breckinridge  and  Lew  Wallace?  Of  the  fight 
ing  of  Sherman  and  Johnston?  (199.)  Of  Atlanta's  importance? 
(200.)  Of  Johnston's  Fabian  policy?  Of  a  desolated  valley? 
(200.)  Of  the  best  of  Adam's  race?  Of  defense  of  native  land? 
Of  every  craven  heart?  Of  one  so  brave  as  Sheridan?  (201.) 
Of  war  or  felony?  Of  not  thus  that  Grant  and  Sherman  learned 
to  fight?  (201.)  Of  earthly  retribution?  Of  Tecumseh  S.? 
(202.)  Of  Johnston  superseded  by  Hood?  (203.)  Of  his  move 
backward?  (203.)  Of  Thomas  distrusted?  If  removed,  how 
may  Hood  win  victories?  What  is  said  of  fighting  like  crazy 
fiends  at  Petersburg?  Of  Early  threatening  Washington?  Or 
Wright?  OfChambersburg?  Oi' the  barbarian  torch?  (203,204.) 
Of  Sheridan's  ax  and  torch?  (204.)  Of  Early's  victory?  Of 
Sheridan's  greater  victory?  Of  great  barbarism?  Of  Union 
fleets?  OfCushing?  OfFarragut?  (204.)  OfWinslow?  (205.) 

BOOK  TENTH. 

WHAT  is  said  of  Nashville,  Tenn.,  December  16, 1864?  (206.) 
Of  Andrew  Jackson?  Of  the  generalship  of  Thomas?  (208, 207.) 
OfSchofield?  Of  Hood's  bravery?  Of  defeat?  (207.)  Of  atro 
cious  crimes?  (208.)  Of  lawless  villains?  Of  saintly  Bach- 
man?  Of  the  hell  hounds?  (208.)  Of  the  oft  defeated  army 
almo-t  victorious  at  Bentonville,  N.  C.,  March  19,  1865?  (209.) 
Why?  What  is  said  of  Kirkpatrick's  cavalry?  Of  Terry?  Of 
Sabbath  morning  in  Richmond,  April  2, 1865?  "(209, 210.)  Of  after 
noon?  (211,212.)  Of  McLean's  On-hard,  Appomattox  C.  H.,Va.? 
Of  the  strifegro  wing  fiercer?  Of  the  surrender  of  Lee?  Of  Grant's 
generous  magnanimity?  (212.)  Of  Lee  in  adversity?  (212,213.) 
Of  Ford's  Theater?  Of  Washington,  April  14, 1865?  (213.)  Of 
a  bloody  tragedy?  Of  the  President?  Of  Booth?  Of  Beall? 
(214.)  Of  under  the  flag  'neath  which  their  fathers  stood  ?  Of 
Sherman,  Johnston,  Breckinridge  ?  (215.)  Of  "  one  more  social 
drink?"  (216.)  Of  the  right  of  a  supreme  commander  over 
prisoners?  Of  the  kindness  of  the  President?  Of  his  death? 
Of  fanatic  fury  going  to  hanging?  (216.)  Of  Johnston?  (217.) 
Of  Breckinridge?  (217.)  Of  peace?  (218.)  Of  God's  goodness? 
Of  secession  and  disunion?  Of  slaves  free?  Of  Johnson's 
theory  ?  Of  Lincoln's  theory?  Was  coercion,  if  they  were  not 
right,  a  most  atrocious  crime?  (218,  219.)  Did  he  love  the  tin- 
ion?  Was  he  the  poor  man's  friend?  What  is  said  of  a  vica 
rious  sufferer?  (219,  220.)  Did  God  give  a  law  to  make  slaves 
of  freemen?  (220.)  What  is  said  of  the  guilt  of  slavery  in  the 
South?  (220.)  Of  predictions  of  Haytian  horrors?  (221.)  What 


292  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

prevented  it?  (221.)  What  is  said  of  Africa  Christianized? 
Of  the  guilt  of  Southern  men?  (221,222.)  Ofthe  domestic  slave 
trade?  (222.)  Of  retribution ?  (223.)  Is  the  white  man's  lot 
like  what  the  slaves  have  been?  What  is  worse  than  plan 
tation  government?  (224.)  What  is  said  of  the  vile  treat 
ment  of  Jefferson  Davis?  (225.)  Of  stern  retribution  following 
fast?  (226.)  Of  rulers  of  this  continent?  Of  Davis,  Lincoln, 
Maximilian,  Johnson  ?  (226.)  Of  Alaska?  Of  a  costly  party  ? 
(227,  228.)  Of  a  miscreated,  monstrous  government  in  th'e  Si  tutu? 
(228.)  Of  Johnson  acquitted?  Of  fires  in  Boston  ?  (228.)  Of 
Chicago  and  the  North-west?  (228.)  Of  reminders  of  Virginia 
a nd  other  Southern  fires?  (229.)  Do  fraudful  States  raise  fraud- 
ful  citizens?  Of  "  Black  Friday?  "  Of  Tweed  ?  Of  the  "  Credit 
Mobilier?"  (229.)  Of  the  country's  growth?  (230.)  Ofthe 
boomerang?  (230.)  Of  fifteen  and  a  half  millions  of  dollars? 
Or  Sumner  and  Grant?  (231.)  Who  sleep  in  quiet  graves  ?  (232.) 

ELEVENTH  BOOK. 

WHO  took  place?  in  the  Centennial  building  at  Philadelphia? 
Who  prayed?  Whose  hymn  was  ?ung?  (232.)  What  is  said 
of  the  Pittsburg  fire?  (233.)  Of  Sherman's  tactics?  Of  Ham 
ilton's  finance  ?  Whose  loss  ?  TO  whom  does  less  wealth  mean 
less  comfort?  What  had  war  taught  Northern  workmen  ?  (233.) 
What  is  said  of  strife  between  labor  and  capital  ?  Of  a  just  court? 
Of  men  and  machinery  working  on?  Of  a  just  bounty?  Of  a  gen 
eral  tax?  Of  corporations  and  syndicates?  (234.)  What  else 
will  save  the  millions  from  the  millionaires?  (235.)  Why  not 
divide  all  wealth  in  equal  parts?  What  could  not  wealthy 
rulers  buy?  (236.)  How  did  an  aristocracy  of  wealth  rob? 
How  corrupt?  (237.)  What  is  said  of  that  Scotchman?  (238.) 
How  was  silver  demonetized?  Why?  Was  paper  currency 
paid  for  in  gold?  (238.)  What  is  said  of  trade  dollars?  (239.) 
Do  banks  expand  currency  when  it  is  plenty,  contract  when  it 
is  scarce?  What  is  paid  of  a  stable,  well-secured  currency? 
(239.)  Of  President  Garfield?  (240.)  Of  the  Czar  of  Rus 
sia?  Of  John  Brown  as  a  model  saint?  (240.)  What  noted 
men  have  died?  What  is  said  of  Ralph  Waldo  Emerson?  (241 .) 
Of  the  irtm  creed?  (242.)  Of  the  truth  of  God?  (242.)  What 
had  prayerful  people  come  to  celebrate?  What  reply  do  they 
make  to  those  who  say  there  is  no  God?  (243-145.)  What  is 
said  of  only  God  filling  immensity  ?  (245,  246.)  Of  the  period 
when  he  was  the  All?  Of  his  now  existing  in  all?  Of  God 
the  Father?  Of  his  ubiquity?  Of  his  invisibility?  Of  God 
the  Son  manifested?  Of  his  incarnation?  Of  his  crucifixion? 
(247.)  Of  his  rising?  Of  his  reigning?  Of  God  the  Holy  Ghost 
manifested  ?  ( 247.)  Of  his  making  human  bodies  his  temples  ? 
Of  his  giving  men  access  to  the  Father  through  the  Son?  Of  a 
Unitarian  God?  (248.)  Of  the  sovereignty  of  God?  (249.) 
Of  God's  unchangeableness?  Of  his  knowledge?  (249-251.) 


QUESTIONS.  293 

What  is  said  of  unfettered  finite  freedom's  loftiest  flight?   (252.) 
Of  God's  all-encircling  infinite  freedom  ? 

TWELFTH  BOOK. 

WHAT  is  said  of  Washington's  example  ?  (253.)  Of  short 
sighted  men?  Of  parties?  (250.)  Of  the  telephone?  (256.) 
Of  the  phonograph?  (257.)  Of  electric  lights?  Of  electric 
motors?  Of  natural  gas ?  Of  Gen.  Grant's  obseauies  ?  Of  hiy 
life?  (257,  258.)  Of  Hancock?  Of  Johnston  and  Buekiior? 
(258.)  What  can  a  nation  need  that  this  has  not?  (259.)  What 
does  Satan  claim?  (259.)  What  would  he  do  if  he  could? 
(259.)  With  what  does  he  threaten  our  country  ?  (260.)  What 
will  the  decent  people  of  this  land  do  ?  (2(50.)  What  is  said  of 
filthy  liquors  ?  (261.)  Of  the  hatreds  of  strong  parties?  Of  an 
election  force  bill?  (262.)  What  would  the  people  do  in  five 
Aveeks?  (263.)  Of  Northern  capital?  (263.)  Of  noble  North 
ern  men?  (263,264.)  Of  wealthy  Northern  men?  (265.)  Of 
Northern  working-men  ?  What  would  election  day  seo  ?  (265.) 
What  took  place  in  the  capital  at  that  hour?  (266.)  What  docs 
one  million  for  the  treasury  take  from  the  people  for  the  capi-' 
talists?  (267.)  What  is  said  of  Cleveland  and  Harrison? 
(268.)  What  will  the  people  do  with  the  robber  -tariff?  (268.) 
What  of  rich  men's  greediness  of  gain?  (269.)  What  system 
of  finance  is  proposed?  (270.)  What  is  said  of  lifting  the  bur 
den  from  the  poor?  What  should  wealth  pay?  (271.)  What 
will  this  great  nation  not  x>ermit?  What  will  this  nation  find? 
(272.) 


(294) 


VIRGINIA  VISITED. 


SELECTED  POEMS. 


VIRGINIA    VISITED. 

RICHMOND,  VA.,  MAY,  isaa. 

HERE,  loveliest  of  mothers, 

At  home,  from  sorrows  free, 
I  leave  all  else  to  others; 

And  in  my  childish  glee, 
Entranced  by  charms  that  grace  thee 

I  stand  beside  thy  knee; 
Thy  loving  arms  embrace  me, 

While  thrilling  ecstasy 
Bids  care  and  gloom  and  madness 

With  quick'ning  speed  depart, 
As  in  this  hour  of  gladness 

I  nestle  near  thy  heart; 
And  lay  my  flushed  cheek  lightly 

Upon  thy  tender  breast, 
Where  in  my  childhood  nightly, 

I  dreamed  of  heav'nly  rest. 

Through  years  of  weary  wand' ring, 

I've  languished  for  thy  smile, 
My  spirit  fondly  pond'ring, 

On  ev'ry  winning  wile 
That  won  my  love,  and  bound  me 

With  fascinating  pow'r, 
And  twined  my  heartstrings  round  thee, 

In  childhood's  guileless  hour. 
That  sacred  tie,  unbroken, 

Still  draws  mo  to  thy  side, 
With  many  a  wish  unspoken, 

That  here  I  might  abide. 

(295) 


296  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

A  dreary  road,  and  lonely, 
I'll  tread  when  we  must  part, 

Though  I  have  brought  thee  only 
A  loving,  homesick  heart. 

O  best  beloved  of  mothers! 

The  "Iliad  of  thy  woes" 
Wrings  from  my  noble  brothers, 

And  even  from  thy  foes, 
The  bitter  tears  of  sorrow 

And  sympathetic  grief, 
That  seek  from  God  to  borrow, 

For  virtue,  sweet  relief. 
Twas  when  thy  homes  were  blazing, 

By  vandal  fires  consumed, 
Th'  indignant  world  stood  gazing, 

And  saw  thy  face  illumed 
With  more  than  earthly  glory ; 

And  thy  majestic  form, 
Though  battle-scarred  and  gory, 

Rose  grandly  through  the  storm. 

Thermopylaes  a  hundred, 

And  Marathons  by  scores, 
Still  tell  where  cannons  thundered 

To  guard  thy  sacred  shores. 
Yet  not  from  puny  Persians, 

Thy  bloody  fields  were  won, 
Nor  troops  whose  brief  incursions 

End  with  the  rising  sun; 
But  men  thou  wouldst  have  cherished 

Were  fiercest  of  thy  foes, 
And  when  they  bravely  perished, 

In  agonizing  throes, 
Thou  laidst  their  countless  numbers 

Beside  thy  boldest  braves, 
To  peaceful,  quiet  slumbers, 

In  "  hospitable  graves." 

O  mother  of  the  mighty! 
Thy  matchless,  gallant  sons 


SELECTED  POEMS.  297 

Take  precedence,  and  rightly, 

Of  all  earth's  valiant  ones; 
Not  Cffisar,  nor  Napoleon, 

Nor  he  of  Macedon, 
Nor  German,  Frank,  nor  Briton 

Could  do  what  they  have  done. 
The  fabled  hosts  that  Homer 

Made  high  Olympus  tread 
Were  dwarfed  beside  each  roamer 

That  "Stonewall"  Jackson  led; 
No  gods  of  Grecian  story 

Could  bear  comparison, 
On  fields  of  martial  glory, 

With  Lee  or  Washington. 

By  old  Britannia's  charter, 

A  continent  was  thine; 
Hills,  plains,  and  sparkling  water, 

Each  forest  and  each  mine. 
The  silv'ry  voice  of  science 

Still  pleads  thy  rightful  claim, 
And  boldly  bids  defiance 

To  all  who  scorn  thy  name, 
"Yirginiensis,"  brightly 

Her  jeweled  hand  engraves 
On  birds  that  carol  lightly, 

On  tenants  of  the  waves; 
Fair  flow'rets  breathe  it  sweetly, 

It  flashes  on  the  tide, 
The  wild  deer  bears  it  fleetly 

Far  up  the  mountain  side. 

Thy  name,  beloved,  immortal 

Shall  live  when  others  die, 
And  to  thy  glowing  portal 

Thy  children  ever  hie. 
When  Time  his  course  is  ending, 

When  all  his  works  shall  cease, 
All  eyes  shall  sec,  descending, 

The  glorious  Prince  of  Peace; 
Then  coming  down  from  heaven, 

Christ's  Virgin  Bride  shall  shine, 


298  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Fair,  sinless,  pure,  forgiven, 

Illustrious,  divine! 
And  thou  and  thine  shall  with  them 

Be  blessed  and  satisfied, 
As  in  the  New  Jerusalem, 

Virginia's  glorified. 


I'LL  THINK  OF  THE  SAND  BANKS.* 

LEXINGTON,  KY.,  APRIL,  1339. 

I'LL  think  of  the  sand  banks  when  morn's  early  beam 
Illumines  the  meadow  and  brightens  the  stream, 
When  noon's  sultry  sunshine  invites  to  repose, 
When  night  spreads  oblivion  o'er  pleasures  and  woes; 
E'en  my  dreams  shall  be  peopled  with  forms  that  were 

there, 
And  their  voices  shall  echo  in  fancy's  rapt  ear. 

I'll  think  of  the  sand    banks  when   spring  paints   her 

flow'rs 

And  calls  her  winged  minstrels  to  gladden  her  bow'rs, 
When  summer's  warm  smile  glows  above  the  parched 

soil, 

When  autumn's  rich  stores  bless  the  husbandman's  toil, 
And  the  chill  winds  of  winter  shall  bring  to  my  mind 
The  mem'ry  of  friends  whom  I  there  left  behind. 

I'll  think  of  the  sand  banks  while  youth's  eager  eye 
'  Still  rests  on  hope's  bow  in  futurity's  sky; 
When  manhood  with  cares  shall  encircle  my  feet, 
Or  leave  me,  unfriended,  life's  troubles  to  meet; 
And  when  age  bids  me  gaze  in  the  mirror  of  truth, 
I'll  think  of  the  sand  banks,  the  homo  of  my  youth. 


TO  MY  MOTHER.* 

I  LOVE  the  land  that  gave  me  birth, 
The  fires  that  warm  my  native  hearth, 

*  Accomac,  Va. 

f  Written  at  John  Prather's,  six  miles  East  of  Lexington,  Ky., 
in  the  ppring  of  1842,  and  published  in  the  Ladies'  Repository, 
Cincinnati,  O. 


I'll  think  of  the  sand  banks  when  spring  paints  her  flowers 
And  calls  her  winged  minstrels  to  gladden  her  bowers. 

(299) 


300  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

The  fields  where  childhood's  sunny  hours 
Mid  rip'ning  fruits  and  op'ning  flowers 
Breathed  pleasure  in  the  floating  air, 
Nor  thought  of  pain  nor  dreamed  of  care. 

I  love  the  home  of  infancy, 

Virginia's  charrning  scenery, 

The  sand  banks  of  my  native  shore, 

The  whistling  winds,  the  ocean's  roar, 

The  storrn  careering  fearfully, 

The  snow-capped  surges  wild  and  free. 

I  love  the  friends  of  early  years, 
Who  kindly  wiped  my  infant  tears, 
The  humble  church  without  a  spire, 
Where  blazed  devotion's  hallowed  fire, 
The  ministers  of  sacred  truth 
Who  chid  the  wand' rings  of  my  youth : 

I  love  them  all — God  bless  my  home — 
And  shall  where'er  my  steps  may  roam. 
But,  mother,  when  compared  with  thee, 
To  me  they're  less  than  vanity ; 
Next  to  the  God  she  loves  so  well, 
My  mother  in  my  heart  shall  dwell. 

To  guard  my  unprotected  hours, 

To  strew  my  ev'ry  path  with  flow'rs, 

To  make  my  childhood's  sky  grow  bright, 

To  quell  my  fears  was  thy  delight; 

And  with  a  love  almost  divine 

Thine  eyes  grew  dim  in  watching  mine. 

Dear  mother,  in  my  boyish  dreams, 
When  fancy  ruled  her  magic  realms, 
I  gathered  wealth  that  thy  free  hand 
Might  scatter  blessings  through  the  land, 
I  climbed  Parnassian  hills  for  fame, 
To  give  thy  house  a  deathless  name. 

I  sought  for  honor's  thorny  road, 
To  mingle  with  the  giddy  crowd ; 
And  when  the  rosy  wreath  was  gained, 


SELECTED  POEMS.  301 

Though  toil  and  blood  its  leaves  had  stained, 
Delighted,  at  thy  feet  I'd  bow, 
And  with  it  deck  thy  honored  brow. 

Those  dreams  have  passed,  and  hopes  of  heav'n 

To  nobler  themes  my  thoughts  have  giv'n ; 

Wealth's  golden  stores  may  ne'er  be  mine, 

Nor  fame  my  humble  name  enshrine. 

The  pathway  of  humility 

Must  lead  my  footsteps  to  the  sky. 

But,  mother,  when  my  wand'rings  end 
Where  tall  archangels  lowly  bend, 
Joyful,  their  sovereign  Lord  to  own, 
And  worship  him  who  fills  the  throne; 
Should  Jesus  deign  to  smile  on  me, 
My  thoughts  shall  fondly  turn  to  thee. 

And  should  a  heav'nly  harp  be  mine, 
A  crown  of  righteousness  divine, 
A  mansion  in  the  land  of  love, 
A  home  in  that  bright  world  above, 
'Twill  sweeten  all  the  joys  of  heaven 
To  know  they're  to  my  mother  given. 


A  WIFE'S  FIFTIETH  BIRTHDAY. 

JEFFERSONVILLE,  INC.,  APRIL  20,  1873. 

SINCE  first  I  saw  thee,  thou  hast  ever  been 
My  bright  ideal  of  the  beautiful, 
The  type  and  pattern  of  all  loveliness. 

Whether  in  gleeful  gambolings,  tripping 
O'er  flow'ry  paths,  where  pleasure  led  the  way, 
In  youth's  bright  morn;  or  at  the  noon  of  life, 
Attending  on  love's  myriad  ministries 
With  steady  step ;  or  trudging  cheerfully, 
In  later  hours,  o'er  rough  and  rugged  roads, 
Where  stern  domestic  drudg'ry  drives  her  slaves — 
Love's  partial  eye  has  seen  in  all  thy  steps 
The  poetry  of  motion  and  of  grace. 


(802) 


Or  at  the  noon  of  life 
Attend  on  love's  myriad  ministries. 


SELECTED  POEMS.  303 

Through  all  these  happy  hours  thy  gentle  voice 

Has  seemed  to  pour  upon  my  ravished  ear 

The  music  of  that  heav'n  to  which  we  go. 

No  weight  of  years  has  bent  thy  graceful  form ; 

No  sorrow  dimmed  the  love  light  of  thine  eye ; 

The  rose  of  beauty  blooms  upon  thy  cheek, 

Still  fadeless  through  the  frosts  of  fifty  years. 

The  hearts  that  long  have  gladdened  in  thy  smile 

Now  gather  round  to  hail  thy  natal  hour. 

So  in  the  time  to  come  this  joyous  day, 

The  brightest  in  the  calendar,  shall  find 

Thy  throne  of  love,  amid  thy  family, 

In  home's  delightful  summer  land  of  bliss. 


A  TRUTHFUL  IDYL  OF  REST  AND  RAPTURE. 

ORLANDO,  FLA.,  SEPTEMBER  «,  teas. 

LET  the  bright  needle  rest  to-day; 

Books,  pens,  and  work  are  laid  away; 

No  toilsome  thought  shall  hither  stray; 

The  sportive  sunbeams  idly  play 

On  the  full  ears  of  perfect  corn, 

That  fertile,  restful  fields  adorn. 

They  gayly  dance  and  brighlly  smile 

On  many  a  lonely  tropic  isle; 

Their  languor-laden  glory  shines 

Where  ocean  lazily  reclines 

In  his  broad  bed  at  perfect  ease, 

And  bids  his  slow-paced  wavelets  tease 

The  shy  and  modest  slumb'rous  shore 

With  their  unceasing,  sullen  roar. 

This  sluggish  air  is  not  inclined 

The  paths  of  busy  trade  to  find; 

The  soft-winged  angels  of  repose 

Float  lightly  on  each  breeze  that  blows. 

Those  grand  old  trees  that,  tow'ring  high, 

Rest  their  tall  heads  against  the  sky 

Have  done  their  work — borne  buds  and  flow'rs 

And  rich,  ripe  fruit — in  former  hours. 

The  birds  sit  silent  on  the  spray ; 


304  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

Their  tender  fledgelings,  flown  away, 
Have  left  no  chirping  nursling  brood, 
With  hungry  cries  demanding  food. 
In  patriarchal  grace  and  pride. 
They're  quiet,  grave,  and  dignified. 

Our  tuneful  offspring,  loved  and  blest, 
Have  long  since  left  the  parent  nest; 
The  children's  children  blithely  play 
Through  all  this  fair  September  day. 

Give  me  the  hand  that  holds  the  thread, 
The  hand  I  long  have  gently  led. 
In  loving  clasp  it  still  must  stay; 
Let  the  bright  needle  rest  to-day. 

Hold  there!     With  speed  old  cares  depart; 

The  warm  pulsations  of  the  heart 

Rejuvenate  the  blood  of  age, 

And  all  the  faculties  engage 

To  quicken  life's  slow,  latent  springs, 

And  give  to  fancy  youthful  wings. 

Th'  ecstatic,  dear,  delightful  dream 

Turns  time's  old  turbid  tide  upstream: 

Threescore  and  ten  goes  hobbling  off; 

See  twenty -five  his  chapeau  doff, 

And  gently  bow  his  gallant  form, 

In  heartfelt  homage,  high  and  warm, 

Where  graceful  sixty-six  resumes 

The.  beauty  that  at  twenty  blooms. 

Come  to  the  parlor;  take  the  arm 
That  still  protects  and  shields  from  harm. 
Tread  lightly  ou  the  hopes  and  fears 
Of  four  and  forty  wedded  years, 
Whose  blissful  hours  come  smiling  here, 
To  fill  our  hearts  with  lofty  cheer. 
Sing  softly  songs  of  former  times : 
There's  rapture  in  their  simple  rhymes. 
Let  the  old  tunes  that  charm  the  soul 
Sublimely  swell  and  sweetly  roll. 


SELECTED  POEMS.  305 

In  this  piano-prison  bound 

There's  many  a  captive  thrilling  sound. 

In  harmony  they  all  agree, 

And  wait  your  touch  to  set  them  free. 

Though  now  their  vocal  chords  are  mute, 

You'll  find  a  remedy  to  suit; 

The  life  of  music  lingers  still 

In  fingers  that,  with  magic  skill, 

Can  draw  from  each  obedient  key 

Sweet,  soul-entrancing  melody. 

That  heav'nly  strain  repeat,  prolong: 
An  angel  well  might  hush  his  song, 
To  pour  upon  his  ravished  ear 
The  rich,  mellifluous  sounds  I  hear. 

We're  young  again,  my  precious  bride; 
And  I,  enraptured  by  thy  side, 
Recall  the  loveliness  and  grace 
Of  faultless  form  and  matchless  face 
That  won  the  heart  that  still  is  thine 
And  still  delights  to  call  thee  mine. 


THE  FASTING,  PRAYING  CHURCH. 

Written  in  Louisville,  May,  1844.  on  the  dav  set  apart  for  praver  by  the 
General  Conference  on  motion  of  Dr.  John  P.  Durbin.  Published  in  the 
Ladies'  Repository,  Cincinnati,  O.;  copied  by  Dr.  Thomas  E.  Bond,  Sr.t 
in  New  York  Advocate. 

CHURCH  of  my  early  choice,  thy  sons 

Are  bathed  in  sorrow  and  in  tears, 
A  company  of  sighing  ones, 

A  band  of  weeping  worshipers ; 
Youth  lays  its  joyousness  aside ; 

Age  bends  beneath  its  weight  of  care ; 
Beauty  and  strength  forget  their  pride — 

All  bow  submissively  in  prayer. 
And  shall  the  suppliants  depart 

In  sadness  from  a  throne  of  grace? 
Shall  quiv'ring  lip  and  throbbing  heart, 

Despairing,  leave  the  sacred  place  ? 
O  can  the  bruised,  bending  reed 

Be  broken  by  the  God  of  love? 
20 


306  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

No,  Jesus  lives  to  intercede ; 

Thy  living  Head  still  reigns  above. 

Church  of  the  living  God,  to  thee 

A  nation  turns  with  anxious  eye ; 
Gloom  gathers  o'er  thy  destiny, 

And  darkness  spreads  along  thy  sky; 
Yet  shall  the  storm  cloud  pass  away, 

The  lurid  lightning  cease  to  blaze ; 
The  sunshine  of  a  brighter  day 

Shall  gild  thee  with  its  gladd'ning  rays. 
E'en  though  thy  legions  should  divide, 

One  standard  of  the  cross  would  wave, 
One  leader  in  thy  front  would  ride, 

Mighty  to  conquer,  strong  to  save. 
Th'  eternal  God  thy  refuge  is, 

The  everlasting  arms  are  thrown 
Around  the  subjects  of  his  grace, 

And  he  will  safely  keep  his  own. 

Church  of  the  poor,  no  creed  of  thine 

Has  taught  thy  sons  exclusiveness ; 
They  never  claimed  a  right  divine 

To  curse  the  souls  they  could  not  bless; 
To  fetter  thought  or  chain  the  mind ; 

They  ne'er  have  moved  the  civil  pow'r. 
Nor  with  the  foes  of  man  combined 

To  lengthen  out  oppression's  hour ; 
No  widow's  tear,  no  orphan's  sigh, 

No  ashes  of  the  martyred  dead, 
No  cries  of  sainted  souls  on  high 

Have  called  for  vengeance  on  thy  head. 
But  glad  for  thee  the  wilderness 

Now  echoes  to  thy  cheerful  voice ; 
Cursed  by  the  world,  'tis  thine  to  bless 

Earth's  erring  sons  with  heav'nly  joys. 

Church  of  our  fathers,  'tis  thy  hand 
Shall  guide  their  offspring  to  the  skies ; 

While  through  thy  courts,  from  ev'ry  land, 
The  hosts  of  the  redeemed  shall  rise. 


SELECTED  POEMS.  307 

While  wand'ring  o'er  his  native  sands, 

Or  through  the  world  in  slav'iy  driv'n, 
The  Ethiop,  with  outstretched  hands, 

Shall  seek  through  thee  for  rest  in  heav'n. 
.  The  Indian  shall  forget 'to  roam, 

The  war  songs  of  the  West  shall  cease, 
And  tenants  of  each  wigwam  home 

Be  subjects  of  the  Prince  of  Peace. 
Through  thee  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  claim 

The  distant  nations  for  his  own, 
Till  tribes  of  ev'ry  tongue  and  name 

Fall  worshiping  before  his  throne. 


THE  APOSTLES'  CREED  IN  VERSE 

ORLANDO,  FLA.,  1888. 

I  BELIEVE  in  God  the  Father, 

The  almighty,  the  divine, 
Father  of  my  Lord  and  Saviour, 

And,  O  blessed  thought!  he's  mine. 
1  believe  in  God  the  Father; 

Not  in  chance  nor  gloomy  fate : 
That  'twas  he  with  wond'rous  wisdom 

Did  the  universe  create : 
That  he  made  the  earth  and  hcav'ns 

For  the  children  of  his  love, 
And  intends  that  they  shall  ever 

Dwell  in  bliss  with  him  above. 
He  is  my  own  loving  Father, 

No  poor  orphan  waif  am  I ; 
I'm  an  heir  of  endless  glory, 

I'm  a  child  of  the  Most  High. 

I  believe  in  our  Lord  Jesus, 

The  divine,  anointed  One ; 
He  alone  is  the  Begotten, 

He  is  the  Eternal  Son. 
Born  of  blessed  Virgin  Mary, 

By  the  Holy  Ghost  conceived, 
He  was  love  divine  incarnate, 

Yet  by  men  was  not  received. 


308  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

That  ho,  under  Pontius  Pilate, 
Suffered,  bled,  was  crucified, 

Bearing  all  our  sins  upon  him, 
When  in  agony  he  died. 

I  believe  his  body  buried 

Lay  in  Joseph's  marble  tomb 
Till  the  third  auspicious  morning 

When  he  left  it's  dismal  gloom : 
Then  o'er  death  and  hell  triumphant 

He  ascended  into  heav'n, 
At  the  right  hand  of  the  Father, 

Where  to  him  all  pow'r  is  giv'n. 

On  his  great  white  throne  descending, 
He  will  judge  the  quick  and  dead, 

When  the  awe-struck  earth  and  heavem* 
From  before  his  face  have  fled. 

I  adore  thee,  Lord  and  Saviour, 

For  thou  wast  and  art  divine, 
On  the  throne  of  Triune  Godhead, 

Or  in  this  poor  heart  of  mine. 
I  adore  thee  in  the  myst'ry 

That  incarnates  deity, 
In  the  judgment  hall  of  Pilate, 

In  expiring  agony ; 
In  thy  vict'ry  over  Satan, 

Over  death,  hell,  and  the  grave, 
Giving  perfect  demonstration 

Of  omnipotence  to  save. 
I  adore  my  Mediator 

In  the  heav'nly  heights  above, 
On  his  awful  throne  of  judgment, 

Which  to  me' s  a  throne  of  love. 
He  will  vindicate  his  people, 

Be  thou  jubilant,  my  soul ! 
Thou  shalt  reign  in  joyous  rapture, 

While  eternal  ages  roll. 

In  the  Holy  Ghost  eternal, 
I  with  all  my  heart  believe; 


SELECTED  POEMS.  309 

In  his  offices  and  person, 

His  divinity  receive. 
I  rely  on  him  for  comfort, 

And  for  freedom  from  all  sin: 
He  will  cleanse  his  human  temple, 

And  enshrine  himself  within. 
'Tis  by  him  that  we  have  access 

To  the  Father,  through  the  Son, 
He  will  guide  and  help  and  strengthen, 

Till  our  work  on  earth  is  done. 

In  the  Church  of  God  believing, 

I  would  seek  no  hermit's  cell; 
Church  on  earth,  and  in  the  heavens 

Let  me  with  your  members  dwell. 

I  believe  in  sweet  communion 

With  the  saints  of  the  Most  High, 
In  their  fellowship  I'm  living, 

And  among  them  I  shall  die. 
I  believe  in  the  remission 

And  the  blotting  out  of  sins; 
When,  with  faith  in  the  Redeemer, 

Everlasting  life  begins; 
Not  to  end  when  this  poor  body 

Heaves  it's  last  expiring  breath, 
But  exist  in  conscious  glory, 

Endless  ages  after  death. 

In  the  body's  resurrection 

I  implicitly  believe, 
As  the  Lord  descends  from  heaven, 

All  his  people  to  receive; 
They,  arising  in  his  likeness, 

Shall  be  glorious  like  their  Lord, 
Incorruptible!  immortal! 

And,  according  to  his  word, 
Shall  in  joyous  exultation 

And  ecstatic  rapture  sing : 
"Where,  O  grave,  is  now  thy  vict'ry? 

Where,  O  death,  thy  pointless  sting?" 


310  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

THE  WORLD  LOST,  THE  UNIVERSE  GAINED. 

FEBRUARY  10,  1883. 

WHEN  wakened  by  the  voice  of  truth, 

From  daydreams  that  entranced  my  youth, 

Earth's  fleeting  vanities  no  more 

Put  on  the  glowing  charms  they  wore: 

In  stern  reality's  own  light, 

The  realms  of  romance  passed*from  sight, 

Each  dear  delusion,  fancy  held, 

Was  instantaneously  dispelled. 

My  herds,  that  fed  on  boundless  plains, 

All  fatt'ning  to  increase  my  gains; 

My  flocks,  that  sipped  from  countless  rills 

Or  nipped  the  herbage  of  the  hills; 

My  bounding  steeds,  that  seemed  designed 

To  leave  the  swiftest  winds  behind — 

All,  with  the  lands  they  trod  upon, 

Were  in  a  moment  lost  and  gone  : 

No  acre  in  the  wid'ning  West 

By  any  hoof  of  mine  was  pressed. 

Unmeasured  fields,  where  growing  grain 
Drank  the  refreshing  summer  rain, 
Shrunk  into  nothingness,  and  left 
Their  owner  saddened  and  bereft. 

Beneath  a  sky  without  a  frown 

My  ev'ry  home-bound  ship  went  down. 

My  fleets  that  safe  at  anchor  lay, 

In  harbor,  river,  lake,  and  bay, 

Stretched  their  white  wings  and  soared  away, 

Nor  have  I  seen  them  since  that  day. 

The  cities  that  my  enterprise 
With  magic  touch  had  caused  to  rise — 
Each  London,  Rome,  and  Babylon — 
Sunk  into  dust  without  a  groan. 

Insane  ambition  doffed  his  crown, 
Laid  his  enchanting  scepter  down, 
Fled  from  the  ruins  of  his  throne 
And  all  he  claimed  or  called  his  own ; 


SELECTED  POEMS.  311 

Hushed  his  demands  for  high  renown, 
And  at  the  feet  of  Christ  fell  down. 
Then  penitential  faith  was  blessed, 
With  pardon,  peace,  and  joyous  rest; 
No  selfish  thought  or  wish  remained: 
The  world  was  lost,  it's  Lord  was  gained, 
And  by  the  gift  of  love  divine, 
The  whole  broad  universe  was  mine. 


THE  WIFE  OF  THE  DRUNKARD. 

LEXINGTON,  KY.,  WINTER  OF  1838-39. 

'TwAS  midnight;  in  sadness  the  drunkard's  wife  gazed 
On  her  hovel's  dark  hearth  where  the  last  fagot  blazed, 
Nor  knew  whence  the  fuel  it  soon  would  require 
Could  come  when  the  flames  which  now  waned  should 

expire. 

She  thought  of  the  time  when  in  childhood's  glad  hours 
The  hand  of  content  strewed  her  pathway  with  flowers, 
When  the  smile  of  a  father  a  sunbeam  wTould  prove 
To  dispel  every  cloud  from  the  heaven  of  love, 
When  a  mother  life's  cup  filled  with  joy  ever  bright, 
And  a  sister's  affection  enhanced  the  delight. 
She  thought  of  a  brother,  the  pride  of  her  heart, 
And  a  lover — what  thrilling  emotions  now  start! 
Love's  Eden  has  faded,  no  pleasures  are  there, 
And  the  buddings  of  hope  yield  the  fruits  of  despair. 
Hark!  what  is  that  noise  which  now  falls  on  her  ears? 
Can  it  be  the  harsh  tones  of  the  storm  king  she  hears? 
Does  the  blast  of  his   trump  call   his  troops  from  the 

north, 

And  bid  them  to  deeds  of  destruction  ride  forth? 
Ah  no;  'tis  a  sound  which  more  terrors  impart: 
'Tis  her  husband's  rude  voice  sends  a  pang  to  her  heart. 
A  moment  has  passed ;  now  before  her  he  stands, 
With  his  eyes  flashing  wildly,  and  death  in  his  hands. 
She  falls  on  her  knees,  with  her  eyes  turned  above, 
Then  points  to  her  infant,  the  pledge  of  his  love; 
But  alas!  all  is  vain,  for  his  reason  is- gone: 
The  man  has  departed,  the  fiend  takes  his  throne. 


312  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

He  turns  to  his  victim,  as  lowly  she  bends, 
And  deep  to  its  hilt  the  keen  dagger  descends. 
Ah!  never  again  shall  affection's  fond  smile, 
Or  endearing  caresses  his  sorrows  beguile; 
No  more  shall  she  hasten  his  coming  to  greet, 
For  the  wife  of  his  bosom  lies  low  at  his  feet. 
Ye  guardians  of  freedom  who  fearlessly  stand, 
The  bulwarks  of  justice,  the  pride  of  our  land, 
How  long  will  your  laws  give  such  potent  control 
To  the  demon  of  death,  the  dark  fiend  of  the  bowl? 
btop  now,  and  no  longer  grant  license  to  kill, 
But  crush  that  vile  monster,  the  "worm  of  the  still." 


THE  TRIUMPHS  OF  INTEMPERANCE. 

PHILADELPHIA,  FALL  OF  1837. 


HE  breathed  upon  the  loveliest  flowers 

Of  beauty,  and  they  withered.     At  his  touch 

The  patriot's  arm  raised  in  his  country's  cause 

Was  palsied.     Where  proud  genius  read  the  stars, 

Or  called  on  fancy  for  a  fairer  world, 

He  came,  darkened  his  once  bright  intellect, 

And  placed  him  on  a  level  with  the  brute. 

He  entered  where  pure  inspiration's  flame 

Blazed  on  religion's  altars,  and  snatched  down 

With  sacrilegious  hand  the  sacred  desk's 

Most  splendid  ornaments.     The  orator 

Whose  voice  had  charmed  the  soul,  and  captive  led 

The  passions  at  his  will,  is  heard  no  more : 

He  too  has  owned  this  mighty  tyrant's  power. 

An  infant  hung  upon  its  mother's  breast, 

And  claimed  that  care  which  brutes  do  not  withhold; 

Yet,  tasting  of  intoxication's  cup, 

The  mother  from  her  bosom  spurned  the  child, 

And  left  it  in  its  helplessness  to  die. 

A  mother  leaned  upon  her  son's  strong  arm 

In  conscious  safety;  and  she  fondly  hoped 

That  he  in  riper  years  would  ever  be 

Her  guardian  and  defender — but  vainly : 

The  tempter  placed  the  goblet  to  his  lips, 

And  lured  him  to  an  ignominious  grave. 

o  o 


SELECTED  POEMS.  313 

A  father  with  emotions  of  delight 

Gazed  on  each  smiling  face  and  lovely  form 

That  crowded  round  his  fireside,  and  he  felt 

A  sacred  joy,  which  none  but  parents  feel ; 

Nor  dreamed  that  aught  might  ever  mar  his  bliss. 

But  he  became  a  victim  of  the  bowl, 

And,  fiend-like,  drove  his  wife  and  children  forth 

To  try  the  mercy  of  the  midnight  storm. 

'Tis  thus  intemperance  treats  its  devotees, 

Nor  age  nor  sex  nor  rank  nor  beauty  spares; 

Monarch  and  slave,  peasant  and  lord  alike 

Have  felt  its  evils  and  endured  its  sting. 


LIBERIA,  THE  COLORED  MAN'S  REFUGE.* 
PHILADELPHIA,  JUNE,  1838. 

ON  the  gales  of  the  South  comes  the  ciy  of  the  slave, 
From  the  horrors  of  bondage  he  asks  us  to  save. 
But  alas !  'tis  in  vain,  for  the  law's  stern  decree 
Assures  us :  "  The  negro  can  never  be  free ! " 
On  the  skies  of  the  North,  like  the  light'ning's  red  glare, 
Shoot  the  flames  from  his  house  mid  the  shrieks  of  de 
spair, 

While  the  mob  stands  exulting,  the  scene  to  survey. 
No  law  can  protect  him,  the  negro's  their  prey. 
From  the  land  of  his  forefathers,  far  o'er  the  sea, 
Comes  a  voice  which  invites  him  from  bondage  to  flee 
And  dwell  in  contentment  on  Africa's  shore, 
Where  oppression  and  insult  shall  reach  him  no  more. 


BEST  OF  THY  KIND. 

PHILADELPHIA,  FALL  OF  ISST. 

BEST  of  thy  kind,  I  fain  would  keep  thee  longer, 
At  least  till  specie  circulates  again; 

*  Offered  to  the  Philadelphia  Saturday  Courier,  June,  1838, 
but  declined  on  account  of  the  subject  being  too  inflammatory. 
The  editor  said  he  discovered  great  merit  in  the  writer,  and 
asked  for  an  interview.  The  writer  was  top  bashful  to  grant  that 
interview,  but  continued  to  slip  articles  into  the  contribution 
box. 


314  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

But  then,  alas!  necessities  grow  stronger, 

And  thou  must  go,  my  credit  to  sustain. 
Go  on,  and,  like  a  minister  of  mercy, 

Still  clothe  the  naked,  and  the  hungry  feed; 
Though  men  abuse  and  slander  while  they  use  thee, 

Mind  not  their  rudeness,  nor  their  insults  heed. 
I  send  thee  forth  as  Noah  sent  the  raven, 

Return  not  if  hard  money  may  be  found; 
But  thou  shalt  ever  have  a  welcome  given 

While  the  "shin  plaster"  deluge  rages  round. 


"IT  IS  NOT  THE  DAYDREAM." 

1837. 

IT  is  not  the  daydream  of  fancy  so  bright 

Can  give  to  the  heart  a  true  sense  of  delight: 

Nor  is  it  the  wealth  of  the  Indies  can  say 

To  sorrow,  Depart ;  or  to  care,  Flee  away. 

The  soft  voice  of  music  which  floats  on  the  air 

Is  often  disturbed  by  the  shrieks  of  despair; 

And  the  glitt'ring  tear,  called  by  memory,  will  start, 

Where  pleasure  and  glee  strive  to  gladden  the  heart. 

While  fame  twines  her  wreaths  for  the  conq'ror's  brow, 

And  the  slaves  of  his  caprice  in  suppliance  bow, 

How  often  does  conscience  remind  him  again 

Of  the  cries  of  the  dying  and  shrieks  of  the  slain ! 

The  high  road  to  honor,  so  charming  and  fair, 

Is  often  impressed  with  the  footsteps  of  care; 

And  royalty's  diadem  has  not  the  power 

To  banish  distress,  e'en  for  one  short-lived  hour. 

Then  where  shall  we  seek  for  this  dearest,  best  prize? 

Is  it  found  'neath  the  sunshine  of  Italy's  skies? 

Does  it  dwell  'mid  the  Russian's  drear  regions  of  snow? 

Or  sport  where  the  clear  purling  rivulets  flow? 

Or  gaze  on  the  ruins  of  classical  lands? 

Or  rest  in  the  shade  where  the  pyramid  stands? 

Or  does  it  select  as  its  fav'rite  abode 

The  valleys  and  plains  where  the  prophets  once  trod? 

Or  gladden  that  hill  where  with  wondering  eyes 

The  apostles  beheld  their  Redeemer  arise? 


'  SELECTED  POEMS.  315 

Confined  to  no  station,  no  country  can  claim; 

A  plant  of  Elysium,  from  heaven  it  came. 

Below  in  earth's  gardens  it  blooms  for  awhile, 

If  warmed  by  the  sun  of  contentment's  bright  smile; 

And,  enjoying  its  sweets,  to  the  virtuous  is  giv'n 

A  foretaste  of  that  which  awaits  them  in  heav'n. 


DAUGHTER  OF  AFFLUENCE. 

SPRING  OF  1342. 

DAUGHTER  of  affluence,  fav'rite  of  heav'n, 

Much  is  required  where  much  has  been  giv'n. 

Wealth  brings  her  treasures  to  lay  at  thy  feet; 

Pleasure  attends  thee  in  each  loved  retreat; 

Nature  has  lent  to  thy  form  ev'ry  grace; 

Rose  tints  of  loveliness  bloom  on  thy  face; 

Genius  has  kindled  her  fires  in  thine  eye; 

Hope's  brightest  bow  gild's  futurity's  sky; 

Jesus  has  warmed  thy  young  heart  with  his  love; 

Piety  points  thee  to  blessings  above; 

Honored  and  envied,  loved,  flattered,  caressed, 

God  smiles  upon  thee,  and  men  call  thee  blessed. 

Daughter  of  affluence,  blessed  as  thou  art, 

Think  of  the  poor  and  the  broken  in  heart; 

Mercy's  fair  minister,  onward  still  go, 

Haste  to  the  wrretched,  the  children  of  woe; 

Comfort  the  mourner,  relieve  the  distressed ; 

Point  them  to  mansions  of  heavenly  rest; 

Think  of  thy  sisters  in  heathenish  night; 

Scatter  their  darkness  with  heavens  own  light; 

Send  them  the  gospel,  to  tell  of  a  home 

Where  tears  are  all  wiped,  where  sorrows  ne'er  come. 

Trust  in  the  Lord,  and  the  light  of  his  smile 

Thy  cares  shall  all  banish,  thy  sorrows  beguile. 


BIOGRflPHICflL  SKETCH. 


PARTIAL  friends  have  demanded  a  history  of  THE  AMERICAN 
EPIC  and  of  the  author's  earlier  poetry.  The  epic  was  inspired 
by  an  ardent  love  of  native  land  and  an  intense  desire  for  hu 
man  happiness.  Its  seed  thought  was  found  in  18(51,  while 
reading  "  Elliott's  Debates  and  Proceedings  of  the  Federal  Con 
vention."  The  storm  that  disturbed  Patrick  Henry's  speech 
in  the  Virginia  Ratifying  Convention  seemed  to  be  supernatu 
ral.  Since  1861  the  hope  has  been  indulged  that  one  of  our  dis 
tinguished  poets  would  make  that  storm  the  central  thought  of 
a  great  American  epic  poem.  It  was  deeply  regretted  that 
Mr.  Bryant  did  not,  instead  of  writing  a  new  translation  of  "  Ho 
mer's  Iliad,"  give  us  a  grand  epic  superior  to  anything  written 
by  Homer,  Virgil,  Dante,  or  even  Milton.  A  letter  to  a  distin 
guished  poet,  editor,  and  publisher  was  closed  with  the  question: 
"  Why  do  you  not  write  the  American  epic?  "  The  reply,  writ 
ten  on  the  first  of  February,  1889,  was  as  follows:  "  Your  private 
note  was  most  interesting.  I  thank  you  very  much  for  it.  If 
you  are  ever  in  New  York,  I  hope  you  will  find  it  convenient  to 
call  at  my  office.  It  gives  me  the  deepest  pleasure  to  meet  any 
one  who  knew  my  father."  But  this  gifted  correspondent  wrote 
not  one  word  about  an  American  epic.  On  his  way  from  the  post 
office  the  author  stopped  at  the  office  of  Mr.  Palmer,  now  Mayor 
of  Orlando,  Fla.  There,  as  he  turned  over  a  few  pages  of  Bancroft's 
"  United  States,"  the  entire  scheme  of  the  American  epic  flashed 
through  his  mind.  The  afternoon  of  February  5, 1889,  produced 
several  pages.  The  next  day  certain  sermons  were  verbified,  to 
make  nine  pages  now  printed  between  pages  243  and  252.  The 
third  day  completed  what  is  now  the  first  scene  of  the  second 
book,  from  page  2 1  to  page  25.  Then  followed  Patrick  Henry  and  / 
the  Storm,  from  page  96  to  page  99.  Before  leaving  Florida,  early  / 
in  April,  1889,  he  had  written  to  the  68th  page,  besides  the  refer 
ence  to  Henry  and  the  Storm,  and  the  nine  pages  of  theology 
beginning  on  page  243.  In  Nashville,  Term.,  between  April,  \ 
1889,  and  September,  1890,  the  book  was  continued  as  far  as  page  ^ 
240,  except  pages  215-217.  The  Death  of  President  Garfield, 
the  Burial  of  Emerson,  and  the  last  book  were  written  at  Bucy- 
rus,  O,  between  September  15  and  October  15, 1890 

The  earlier  poems,  some  of  which  are  printed  here  with  their 
dates,  will  probably  give  all  the  information  desired  about  an 
obscure  man  except  his  parentage  and  education.  His  parents 
were  Drummond  and  Mary  Henderson  W«lburn.  He  bears  his 
father's  name,  and  was  born  ten  weeks  after  his  father's  death, 

f:       (316) 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  317 

in  Horntown,  Accomac  County,  Va.,  near  the  Atlantic  shore,  on 
the  22d  of  October,  1818.  His  mother's  mother  was  a  Marshall, 
his  father's  mother  a  Corbin,  his  grandmother  being  a  Drum- 
mond.  The  first  American  Welburn  was  from  Wales.  He 
landed  on  the  10th  of  May,  1610,  with  Sir  Thomas  Gates  and 
other  officers  of  the  colony  of  Virginia,  after  having  been 
shipwrecked  on  Bernim  la  nine  months  before.  The  second  of 
America's  gospel  ministers,  Rev.  Mr.  Bucke,  arrived  on  the  same 
ship,  the  "  Sea  Venture."  The  Welburns  have  been  hereditary 
merchants  and  planters.  Our  author  was  from  his  eighth  year, 
when  not  at  school,  a  merchant's  clerk.  The  village  post  office 
was  kept  at  the  store.  This  gave  the  boy  access  to  the  Rich 
mond,  Washington,  and  Philadelphia  papers.  Ritchie,  Pleas- 
ante,  Gales  and  Seaton,  Duff  Green,  Atkinson,  Poulson,  and 
Walsh  introduced  him  to  Irving,  Bryant,  Drake,  Halleck,  Lof- 
land,  and  other  rising  American  writers,  as  well  as  to  more  dis 
tinguished  British  authors.  He  also  became  familiar  with  the 
names  of  our  most  noted  statesmen,  and  had  a  rich  enjoyment 
of  their  oratory  as  reported.  When  eleven  and  a  half  yeaVs  old, 
he  ceased  to  attend  the  very  commonest  of  common  schools  from 
one  to  three  months  out  of  every  twelve.  His  post  office  and  news 
paper  instruction  was  no  longer  enjoyed,  but  the  Holy  Scriptures 
and  the  hymns  of  the  Methodists  still  cultivated  his  literary 
taste.  The  skill  of  his  schoolmasters  had  been  exhausted  in 
teaching  him  reading  and  arithmetic,  and  in  unsuccessful  ef 
forts  to  teach  him  penmanship.  From  his  pious  mother  he 
learned  religious  truth,  morals,  and  manners. 

In  April,  1830,  Philadelphia  became  his  home.  There  sixteen 
hours  out  of  everv  twenty-four  had  to  be  devoted  to  the  dry 
goods  business.  During  the  greatest  activity  of  the  spring  and 
fall  trade  merchants  and  clerks  were  often  up  nearly  all  night. 
The  store-house  at  the  north-west  corner  of  Second  and  Pine 
Streets  was  to  him  "  the  house  of  bondage," and  to  him  threatened 
to  become  the  grave  of  learning.  He,  however,  continued  to  rea  d 
much,  between  10  and  12  o'clock  at  night  and  on  Sundays. 
During  his  last  two  year*  in  the  great  city  lie  was  released  from 
business  every  other  night,  and  attended  the  meetings  of  a 
literary  lyceum  *  once  a  week.  He  also  joined  the  Pennsylvania 
Literary  Institute,!  which  had  more  than  three  hundred  mem 
bers,  an  extensive  library,  and  a  large  hall  on  Chestnut  Street. 
He  was  elected  to  deliver  one  of  its  anniversary  addresses  to  a 
large  congregation  in  August,  1838.  With  an  almost  insane  desire 
for  literary  distinction,  he  frequently  scribbled  the  crude  thoughts 
of  one  who  had  not  been  taught  a  rule  of  grammar,  nor  a  line 
of  geography  or  history.  In  the  fall  of  1837  he  wrote  on  the  back 

*  Among  the  forty  or  fifty  members  of  the  lycenm  were  Graham  and 
Peterson,  afterward  noted  publishers  of  literary  and  fashion  magazines. 

•j-W.  L.  Lane,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  now  famous  Public  Ledger, 
was  also  elected  to  speak  at  the  Institute's  anniversary. 


318  THE  AMERICAN  EPIC. 

of  a  note  of  the  Southern  Loan  Company  the  lines  beginning, 
"  Best  of  thy  kind."  They  were  printed  in  the  Saturday  Courier, 
and  complimented  as  "  an  exquisite  morcmu."  The  same  paper 
printed  "  It  Is  Not  the  Daydream ''  and  "  The  Triumphs  of  In 
temperance."  "  Liberia,  the  Colored  Man's  Refuge,"  was  de 
clined  in  June,  1838.  The  editor  wrote:  "  We  shall  be  happy  to 
welcome  more  poetical  favors  from  this  pen  to  our  columns. 
We  discover  great  merit  in  this  writer,  and  regret  that  his  last 
production  is  of  a  kind  we  cannot  give.  Will  the  writer  favor 
us  with  a  personal  call?  "  The  writer  was  too  bashful  to  call  on 
the  editor  of  a  great  literary  paper.  The  burning  of  the  Aboli 
tion  Hall  had  created  intense  excitement,  and  led  to  the  exclu 
sion  of  a  reference  to  slavery. 

In  October,  1838,  Lexington,  Ky.,  became  our  author's  home. 
There  he  continued  to  write,  but  as  his  friend,  George  R.  Gra 
ham,  had  become  editor  of  the  Casket  and  the  Saturday  Evening  \ 
Post,  his  contributions  appeared  in  the  Post,  or  in  the  Lexington 
papers.  The  Union  Philosophical  Society  of  Transylvania  Uni 
versity*  accepted  him  as  a  member,  and  in  1839  elected  him  to 
deliver  one  of  its  anniversary  addres-ses.  On  the  10th  of  May, 
of  that  year,  he  was 

"  Wakened  by  the  voice  of  truth 

From  daydreams  that  entranced  his  youth." 

"Those  dreamsJiad  passed,  and  hopes  of  heaven 
To  nobler  themes  his  thoughts  had  giver.." 

The  Falvation  of  his  own  soul  and  the  souls  of  others  seemed  to 
him  to  require  the  renunciation  of  earthly  ambition.    He  turned 
from  oratory  and  poetry  and  everything  that  could  take  atten 
tion  or  time  from  the  work  of  the  Christian  ministry.    As  a  fa 
vor  to  himself,  his  associates  cf  the  So<  iety  kindly  relieved  him 
from  the  task  of  honor  they  had  imposed.    After  this  he  wrote 
little  poetry  and  published  less.    From   1844  to  1880   he  had    ^ 
nothing  printed.    He  has  been  a  Kentucky  Methodist  preacher/ 
fifty-two  years ;  is  now  a  superannuate,  connected  with  the  Ken 
tucky  Annual  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
South.     He  lived  in  Virginia  until  April,  1830;  in  Philadelphia 
until  October,  1838;  in  Kentucky  until  September,  1857;  in  Jef- 
fersonville,  Ind.,  until  April,  1887;  in  Orlando,  Fla.,  until  April,  v 
1889.    Since  April,  1889,  he  lias  resided  in  Nashville,  Term.    In  \ 
all  his  wanderings,  having  never  ceased  to  be  a  Virginian,  he  has 
continued  to 

"  Drag  at  each  remove  a  lenprthcning  chain." 

*B.  Gratz  Brown  and  Edward  Marshall  were  members  of  the  Society. 


THE  AMERICAN  EPIC: 
A  CONCISE  SCENIC  HISTORY  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES, 

AND  OTHER  SELECTED  POEMS. 


BY  A  CITIZEN  OF  NASH  VILLE. 


Revised  and  Enlarged  Edition, for  Schools,  the  Family  Circle,  and  the 
Leisure  Moments  of  the  Busy  Millions. 


This  revised  edition  of  the  "Epic"  has  thirteen  pages  9f  questions, 
adapting  it  for  use  in  the  schools  of  the  country, in  which  it  is  rapidly  be 
coming  a  favorite. 

Of  the  manuscript,  the  Nashville  American  said:  '' We  hope  to  see  it 
in  print  soon,  and  bespeak  for  it  a  permanent  place  in  the  literature  of 
our  language." 

Mr.  Thonias  Nelson  Page,  of  Virginia,  writes:  "I  fqund  much  enter 
tainment  in  reading  it.  1  carried  it  up  to  my  old  home,  in  the  country,- 
and  left  it  for  my  people  to  read,  who  will  enjoy  it  as  1  did." 

Of  the  "American  Epic"  the  Hon.  W.  R.  Garrett,  Tennessee's  Superin 
tendent  of  Public  Instruction,  writer:  "  I  have  read  it  with  much  interest, 
and  am  gratified  to  see  a  work  of  such  literary  merit  produced,  by  a  citi 
zen  of  our  State." 

An  intelligent  Scotch  gentleman  was  reading  to  his  family  from  the 
pages  of  Tennyson,  the  most  distinguished  of  living  poets,  when  his  liter 
ary  wife  said:  u  The  effort  to  understand  it  wearies  me."  He  then  read 
the  unpretending  lines  of  the  "American  Epic,"  to  the  delight  of  his  en 
tire  family  circle. 

The  Louisville  Courier- Journal  said  of  the  manuscript :  "  Who  shall  say 
that  the  war  of  intellects  that  has  been  going  on  for  the  last  hundred 
vears  is  not  as  full  of  poetic  inspiration  as  Homer's  interminable  siege? 
The  statesmanship  of  Pitt,  and  sociological  questions  of  absorbing  inter 
est  are  discussed." 

Rev.  W.  G.  K.  Cunnyngham,  D.D.,  in  the  Sunday  School  Magazine, 
writes:  "We  regard  it,  under  the  circumstances,  as  an  extraordinary 
book.  His  imagination  clothes  the  sober  events  of  history  with  the  dra 
pery  of  poetic  imagery.  The  shadowy  outlines  of  the  past  glow  again 
with  light  and  life." 

Mr.  J.  L.  Kirby,  of  the  Sunday  School  Visitor  and  Magazine  siys: 
"  Vye  enjoyed  the  unusual  pleasure  of  a  private  reading  of  the  manu 
script  of  the  poem,  ....  and  since  its  publication  we  have  reread 
it  with  even  greater  zest.  .  .  .  That  portion  of  the  '  Epic' reciting  the 
causes  which  led  up  to  our  civil  war,  the  incidents  of  the  gigantic  strug 
gle,  the  strange  doings  of  the  reconstruction  days  following,  and  the  mu 
tations  of  the  political  world  since  will  be  found  especially  interesting. 
It  is  not  only  true  to  the  facts  of  history,  but  it  abounds  in  passages  of 
decided  literary  vahie.  .  .  .  Another'edition  of  this  work  has  already 
been  called  for,  and  its  lasting  popularity  seems  to  be  assured." 

The  Western  Christian  Advocate,  Cincinnati,  O.,  says  of  the  "Ameri 
can  Epic:"  "The  fact  that  such  a  poem  as  this  appears'without  the  name 
of  its  author  is  indicative  of  additional  merit.  It  is  a  performance  far 
above  the  mediocre.  Intact,  it  has  high  merit.  Its  conception  is  splen 
did.  The  plot  is  we,!!  maintained,  the  periods  are  well  chosen,  and  the 
true  poetic  genius  is  poured  forth  in  such  moderation  or  in  such  force  as 
the  occasion  and  the  eloquence  of  the  moment  seem  to  require.  The  time 
from  March  10,  1764,  to  October  1, 1890,  is  the  platform  of  the  story.  Celes 
tial  characters  and  demons  are  used  for  the  speakers,  and  the  theology  of 
the -Epic'  is  all  against  hatred,  and  in  favor  of  truth,  justice,  love,  and  Fed 
eral  unity.  We  predict  the  'American  Epic'  will  take  high  rank,  and 
that  the  author  a  hundred  years  hence  will  be  on  the  high  road  to  immor 
tality — of  fame.  It  is  a  book  that  will  endure,  and  not  vanish  with  t--e 
hour." 


The  Forum,  Bucyrus,  O.,  says:  "  We  confidently  predict  for  it  a  most 
favorable  reception  by  the  American  people." 

The  distinguished  traveler  and  writer,  Mr.  J.  B.  Gorman,  says:  "The 
'American  Epic '  is  a  wonderful  book,  and  fills  me  with  delight. 

The  Richmond  (Ky.)  Climax  says:  "As  a  history  it  is  valuable;  as  a 
poem  it  has  merit.  Accuracy  is  a  prominent  feature  of  the  book." 

The  Leader,  Lexington,  Ky.,  says  of  the  "  Epic:  "  "A  new  book  rapidly 
becoming  a  famous  one.  It  is  pronounced  by  critics  a  creditable  poem  as 
well  as  faithful  history." 

Dr.  J.  H.  Carlisle,  in  the  Southern  Christian  Advocate,  says:  "  This  is  a 
bold  design,  in  which  not  to  succeed  may  be  to  fail  utterly.  Let  us  rather 
say  that  not  to  fail  entirely  is  to  achieve  a  good  degree  of  success.  The 
author  has  not  failed  entirely." 

Dr.  Hoss,  of  the  Nashville  Christian  Advocate,  writes:  "This  is  a  poem 
to  attract  the  attention  on  sight.  .  .  .  The  contents  are  accurately  de 
scribed  in  the  title.  ,  .  .  Considered  as  history  the  book  is  a  marvel  of 
accuracy.  The  author  is  evidently  a  man  of  wide  reading,  of  accurate 
memory,  of  discriminating  judgment,  and  of  very  positive  convictions." 

Rev.  R.  H.  Rivers,  D.D.,  in  the  Central  Methodist,  writes:  "  He  is  the 
author  of  the  'American  Epic,'  a  book  of  stirring  facts,  of  extensive  re 
search,  and  of  rare  poetic  beauty.  Jt  is  evidence  of  lofty  patriotism,  of 
vivid  imagination,  of  deep  piety,  and  of  a  genius  akin,  and  close  akin,  to 
that  of  the  great  Greek  oard,  the  blind  Homer.  The  'American  Epic' 
will  place  the  old  superannuate  alongside  of  Milton,  and  will  hand  down 
his  name  to  posterity  as  one  of  the  greatest  of  Southern  poets.  1  write 
these  lines  after  spending  days  in  reading  this  grand  production  of  sanc 
tified  genius." 

In  the  same  paper  another  intelligent  literary  gentleman  writes:  "  It  is, 
as  its  name  implies,  an  historic  poem  in  heroic  verse.  It  begins  with 
Cjesar's  invasion  of  Britain,  and  conies  down  to  President  Harrison's  ad 
ministration.  There  is  no  break  in  the  line  of  historic  events.  The  author 
shows  himself  possessed  of  a  very  full  vocabulary  of  chaste  and  elevated 
language,  well  suited  to  the  literary  form  of  his  story.  The  young  reader 
may  learn  much  from  these  pages;  older  readers  \\i\\  be  entertained  by 
the  ingenious  form  of  the  story,  and  will  have  their  memories  refreshed 
by  its  facts;  and  all  will  have  their  attention  called  anew  to  the  overrul 
ing  hand  of  God  in  our  history." 

The  great  Methodist  Review ,  New  York  City,  says:  "Here  is  an  unique 
and  in  some  respects  splendid  history  of  the  United  States  in  poetic  form. 
The  author  has  carefully  studied  American  history  from  the  period  of  the 
Stamp  act  to  the  present  hour,  and  has  traced  the  nation's  development 
through  its  vicissitudes  of  partisanship,  slavery,  rebellion,  reconstruction, 
and  general  political  changes,  both  in  the  North  and  the  South,  weighing 
the  same  in  the  scales  of  a  judgment  quite  as  much  biased  as  if  he  bad 
been  a  Northern  investigator  of  our  country's  history.  Laying  aside  the 
drapery,  and  forgetting  the  spirit  in  which  it  is  written,  we  are  attracti-d 
by  the  unity  and  coherence  of  its  order  of  thought,  and  are  led  to  believe 
that  it  is  necessary  to  study  the  war-period  of  the  nation  from  both  view 
points  to  accurately  determine  its  meaning  and  the  relative  value  of  its 
results.  This  author  is  frank,  sincere,  political,  and  Southern ;  but.  know 
ing  his  characteristics,  we  may  all  the  better  appreciate  his  work.  He 
carries  the  nation  beyond  the  present  period  of  political  disturbance  into 
the  far  future,  when  righteousness  shall  reign  in  every  heart,  and  this 
view  of  progress  and  of  the  indestructibility  of  the  nation  atone  for  those 
political  peculiarities  which  one  under  Southern  influence  is  quite  likely 
to  feel  and  assert." 

320  Pages,  12mo.     Paper  Cover,  60  cents;   Plain  Cloth,  $1; 
Gilt  Cloth,  $1.50;  Morocco  Gilt,  $3.    A  very  liberal  dis 
count  to  teachers  and  agents. 

ADDRESS  

AUTHOR  OF"  THE  "AMERICAN  EPIC," 

Care  of  Publishing  House  of   the  M.  E.  Church,  South, 

BA.RBEE  &  SMITH,  Ag-enf  s,  PTasliviUe,  Tenn. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA  LIBRARY 

Los  Angeles 
This  book  is  DUE  on  the  last  date  stamped  below. 


Form  L9 — 15m-10,'48(B1039)4d4 


UNIVERSITY  af  CALIFORNIA 

AT 


PS         Vfelburn  - 
3158     The  American 


W34a     epic. 
1892 


